According to two documents obtained by EUROPE on Monday 6 December, the European External Action Service (EEAS) is recommending to the ambassadors of the EU Member States meeting in the Political and Security Committee that they support European Peace Facility assistance measures for the Joint Multinational Task Force against Boko Haram and the Joint G5 Sahel Force, for a total amount of €55 million.
The High Representative recommends approving the financial support requested by the African Union Commission of €35 million to support the G5 Sahel Joint Force for the period from 1 January 2022 to 30 June 2024. According to the AU Commission, €20 million should help to strengthen the resilience of the forces and €15 million to increase the maintenance capacity of the equipment, with a view to ensuring its sustainability.
In another document, the EEAS explains that the African Union Commission has requested financial support of €20 million to continue the current EU support to the Force against Boko Haram under the leadership of the Lake Chad Basin Commission between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022. In order to avoid any disruption in the delivery of EU aid, it recommends the approval of two instalments of aid: one of €10 million for the period from 1 January to 30 June 2022, and another of the same amount for the period 1 July to 31 December 2022. “A discussion on the parameters of the EU’s engagement after 2022 with African partners will be sought in early 2022, to ensure that the support provided meets the most pressing needs and priorities of the force and its effectiveness on the ground”, the document adds. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)