A European source halfheartedly confirmed to EUROPE on Wednesday 15 December that the EU training mission, EUTM RCA, had suspended the training of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA).
In a report dated 22 November, the European External Action Service revealed that EU-trained troops were cooperating with the Wagner Group (see EUROPE 12842/8). This cooperation was established, according to the EU, without there being any transparency.
“There are no plans for the FACA to receive additional training from EUTM at the moment or in the short term; this is a temporary operational measure”, explained the source.
The mission will temporarily refocus its efforts on strategic advice to the Ministry of Defence and military headquarters and will give advice to the FACA military schools.
The EU source noted that the presence of Wagner’s mercenaries in CAR was a matter of serious concern to the EU and that the Union was not cooperating with this group.
On Monday 13 December, the EU sanctioned the Wagner Group for human rights abuses in several countries around the world, as well as three entities and eight individuals linked to the group, including the security advisor to the President of the CAR, Valery Zakharov (see EUROPE 12852/7). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)