Brussels, 15/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - Although the EU's military operation in the Central African Republic (CAR) will come to an end on 15 March 2015, the EU is currently preparing to launch a new military mission which will this time aim to contribute to reforming the Central African Armed Forces (FACA).
Meeting in Brussels on Monday 15 December, the European foreign affairs ministers approved the general framework for this advisory mission - which is expected to last a year in Bangui, as part of the EU common security and defence policy.
According to the concept of crisis management, the objective of this future mission will be to contribute “to providing the Central African government with expert advice for reforming the FACA into an armed Republican, professional and multi-ethnic force” by giving “specific, limited, non-operational training”. The European External Action Service (EEAS) has been tasked with continuing the preparatory work in an accelerated way “with a view to enabling the deployment of the mission, subject to a Council decision, before the end of the EUFOR RCA mission”, the conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council state (our translation throughout). (JK)