The foreign ministers of the EU Member States discussed the deteriorating situation in the Sahel on Monday 23 January and expressed their willingness to cooperate more with the coastal countries of the Gulf of Guinea to stem the growing terrorist threat (see EUROPE 13104/12).
“The region remains a priority. Unfortunately, the political and security situation continues to deteriorate. Terrorist contagion in the Gulf States is no longer a risk, it is a reality. Our commitment remains intact”, assured the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, at the end of the session.
Stressing that the EU needed to work more with countries in the region, he said the Foreign Affairs Council had mandated the European External Action Service to develop a crisis management concept “to provide targeted support”. Adding: “We will deploy military experts in our delegations”.
The High Representative announced that the military partnership mission with Niger, EUMPM Niger, which was decided on in December (see EUROPE 13082/33), “will be deployed next month”.
Mr Borrell also denounced “the unacceptable presence of mercenaries from the Wagner Group”. The ministers discussed the ‘Russian narrative’ that they want to counter in the Sahel.
Asked to comment on Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit to South Africa on Monday, Borrell said it was an example of a “diplomatic offensive” ahead of an EU-South Africa ministerial meeting in Pretoria on 25 January as part of the bilateral strategic partnership.
“Countering the Russian narrative is important. We believe the EU should show a greater deal of understanding and a greater deal of interest in what is going on in Africa”, said Swedish minister Tobias Billström. French minister Catherine Colonna echoed this view. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)