Brussels, 15/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - General Esteban Verastegui, who leads the EU mission to provide advice and assistance on the reform of the security sector in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (EU SSR Guinea-Bissau), said on Tuesday 14 July, that the mission would end on the scheduled date, 30 November 2009. “I am confident that we will be able to complete our tasks on time,” he said. The mission, which was officially launched in June 2008 by the Council of the EU, was due to end in May 2009. It was decided in February 2009, however, to extend its duration by six months, to 30 November. The planned objectives had not been met following a series of uprisings in the country which culminated in the assassination of President Joao Bernardo Vieira in March 2009.
The aim of the EU SSR Guinea-Bissau mission is to help the Republic of Guinea-Bissau reform its security sector (SSR). The mission advises and assists local authorities on how to create the right conditions for implementing the national SSR strategy. It is the first EU mission seeking to reform the police, military and judicial sectors of a country at the same time. Some 40 Europeans and Guineans are currently involved in the project.
The mission is seeking to turn the existing police system, with nine police forces under the orders of five different ministries, into one where there are four police forces under just two ministries (Home Affairs and Justice). It is also trying to reorganise the army and make it more effective and efficient. Currently, the army has more officers than men, and General Verastegui speaks of an army “in uniform”. The mission is also working to improve coordination between the police and legal sectors.
It remains to be seen if the EU will be involved in the implementation stage of the reform. Were it to be, a new ESDP mission could be set up if that were the wish of Guinea-Bissau. General Verastegui has already stated that he will not lead this mission if were to be set up.
Among the measures planned to implement the reform are the creation of an international pension fund to pay the retirement pensions of older soldiers and officers so that young blood can be recruited. Initially, this fund would be managed by those providing the money, not bodies close to the Guinean government to avoid any mismanagement of the sums invested. Ultimately, however, it is planned that the country itself will manage the pension fund. The target sum for this fund has not yet been set. It will be determined in October 2009, at a round table meeting to discuss all the reform-related budgetary issues. (L.P./transl.rt)