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