Civilian Operations Commander and EU Special Representative visit Mali for security evaluation

09.10.2019

The security situation in the Sahel is degrading. The EU supports the security and defence efforts of the G5 Sahel countries inter alia by deploying security advisors. The CivOpsCdr and the EU Special Representative for the Sahel visited Mali for an on-the-spot evaluation with the Malian leadership.

During the last years, the security situation in central Mali has steadily deteriorated with the expansion of terrorist and criminal groups activities, including racketeering, increasing indiscriminate use of improvised explosive devices (IED), and sustained attacks on state institutions.

In Bamako, the Civilian Operations Commander Vincenzo Coppola held fruitful talks with the Malian leadership on current cooperation and the way forward.

Concrete capacity building measures by CSDP actors

The Malian Minister for Security and Civil Protection jointly with the Civilian Operations Commander, the EU Special Representative, Angel Losada and the newly appointed Head of EU Delegation, Bart Ouvry, inaugurated a new camp for the Malian Garde Nationale, in Konna, central Mali.

Part of an EU-funded capacity building programme, the PSDG (Pole Sécurisé de Développement et de Gouvernance) camp represents the solid and secure base for 120 National Guard members who will henceforth be able to better service the security needs of the local population. In the future, the base will also be able to host the temporary presence of Government authorities, judges and other State administration members according to needs.

Furthermore, during their visit, they inspected training activities organised by experts from the civilian EU Capacity Building Mission for the benefit of local security forces.

camping houses

Background: a mix of civilian and military CSDP tools to help stabilise Mali

The civilian EU Capacity Building Mission advises and trains the Malian internal security forces on border management as well on countering terrorism and organised crime and is able to support the planning and development of projects put in place by the EU Delegation, the European Commission and by EU Member State bilateral initiatives.

The military EU Training Mission in turn advises and trains the Malian Armed Forces on improving their military capacity in order to provide the restoration of full territorial integrity under civilian authority. The Regional Advisory and Coordinating Cell is a CSDP action under article 20 of the EU Treaty and supports increased security cooperation between the five G5 Sahel countries.

civilian operations commander