Pooling forces and know-how: first staff-level course by EU security and defence experts for the joint military force of the five African G5 Sahel countries

23.10.2019

The Sahel countries work together to address common security challenges. EU experts support by sharing security know-how with their African colleagues.

 

The EU's Regional Advisory and Coordination Cell harnessed the skills of European civilian and military experts deployed already in Mali and Niger to organise for the first time a joint pre-deployment training for 35 Sahelian staff officers.

Since 2014, the Sahel countries work together in the framework of the so-called G5 Sahel not only to promote development and growth, but also to counter terrorism. A joint force, the 'Force Conjointe', was established in 2015 to pool the defence efforts of Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali and Chad.

A premiere in Nouakchott

Recently, 35 staff officers from Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali and Chad for the first time received a joint pre-deployment training by a variety of trainers including the French operation 'Barkhane' and the three CSDP capacity building Missions deployed in Mali and Niger: EUCAP Sahel Mali, EUCAP Sahel Niger and EUTM Mali. The course was facilitated by the EU's Regional Advisory & Coordination Cell (RACC) and harnessed the bundled know-how of the aforementioned European civilian and military missions. The course took place in the joint Defence College of the G5 Sahel.

The joint organisation of a unified course for staff officers from all five G5 Sahel countries, pooling the expertise of trainers from several European Missions, marks a milestone and was accordingly honoured by diplomatic and security dignitaries working in the region.  A minister, ambassadors and generals from African and European nations as well as from Saudi-Arabia acknowledged the importance of this landmark course - an outcome of the security partnership between the European Union and the G5 Sahel.

Group photo

Diplomatic and security dignitaries working in the region honoured the completion of the landmark course.