04/05/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 4 May, the Council announced that Belgian national Frank Van der Mueren has been appointed as head of the EU's civilian capacity building mission in Niger, EUCAP Sahel Niger. The decision was formally taken by the member state ambassadors within the Political and Security Committee on 2 May. Van der Mueren was previously seconded to EUCAP as deputy head of mission and chief of staff (since 2016), having worked there between 2012 and 2014. He takes over from Kirsi Henriksson, who held the post from July 2016 to March 2018. Van der Mueren's mandate will run until 15 July 2018, the current end of the mission's mandate. EUCAP Sahel Niger provides advice and training to support the Nigerien authorities in strengthening their security capabilities and in fighting against illegal migration. (CG)