On 31 March, the European External Action Service (EEAS) recommended in its comprehensive strategic review of the EU military training mission (EUTM RCA) and the CSDP civilian advisory mission (EUAM RCA) in the Central African Republic (CAR) that both missions should be continued, but also reoriented.
While the Central African authorities have confirmed their willingness to continue working with the two missions, the country has turned in part to the support of the Wagner Group.
The Union decided on 29 November 2021 to temporarily suspend the provision of training by EUTM RCA to the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) “in order to avoid any reputational risk for the EU of FACA trained by EUTM falling under the control of mercenaries from the Wagner group, as was observed with the Bataillon d'Infanterie Territoriale 7”.
Unless the Central African authorities change their minds, the reactivation of suspended EUTM training activities seems unlikely, warns the EEAS in its review, obtained by EUROPE. However, “in order not to create a vacuum that will be exploited to the detriment of EU interests, the CSDP presence in CAR should be maintained, albeit on a reduced scale”, it adds, also adding that the main effort of the missions should be refocused on providing strategic advice.
The EEAS therefore proposes to extend the mandate of EUTM RCA by one year, until September 2023.
It recommends reorienting the mission towards the provision of policy advice and support in education. According to the Diplomatic Service, this advice should be provided to the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff to improve their functioning in all relevant areas to support the creation of competent security forces under democratic control, in accordance with international standards of human rights, international humanitarian law, and gender equality, and to training institutions for both non-commissioned and commissioned FACA officers to improve their leadership.
The provision of training to the Armed Forces in non-operational areas, including human rights, international humanitarian law, gender issues and child protection, is also highlighted.
For the EEAS, there is also a need to maintain the capacity to conduct contingency planning for redeployment and re-establishment of a training pillar, if Member States’ ambassadors in the Political and Security Committee (PSC) so decide.
In addition, EUTM should be tasked with taking stock of FACA’s premises and their actions in order to improve the EU’s responsiveness if support is requested by the CAR authorities and the respective preconditions are met.
The mandate could be terminated “if the provision of strategic advice and education activities are made impossible due to the lack of political buy-in from the CAR authorities”, the Diplomatic Service also warns.
With regard to the EUAM, the EEAS recommends extending its mandate for two years, until August 2024, and continuing to focus on providing strategic advice. This advice, to the Ministry of Interior and Public Security and to the internal security forces at the strategic level, should enable their sustainable transformation into a coherent, rule-based and accountable security provider, under national ownership and in close coordination with the EU delegation, EUTM RCA, MINUSCA and other international stakeholders.
The mission should also provide strategic advice to other relevant governmental authorities and structures in order to promote interoperability and coherence in the areas of internal security and law enforcement and to improve the advice provided to these entities.
For both missions, strategic communication efforts to promote the EU’s values and action should be stepped up. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)