21/02/2019 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 21 February, the EU Council extended, by written procedure, the mandate of the EUCAP Sahel Mali mission until 14 January 2021 and allocated a budget of almost EUR 67 million for 2019-2021. This extension, initially planned for the Foreign Affairs Council on 18 February, has been postponed as a result of national internal procedures. Led by Philippe Rio, it is a civilian mission that assists and advises Mali's internal security forces in the implementation of security sector reform. As part of the regionalisation of CSDP missions in the Sahel, EUCAP Sahel Mali will now be able to deliver specific, targeted strategic advice and training in Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad (see EUROPE 12196). Launched on 15 April 2014, the mission has its headquarters in Bamako and will have up to 144 international agents and 65 local agents as of 1 March 2019. (CG)