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Eusec Somalia will aim to train 2000 soldiers

(BRUSSELS2) The European contribution of assistance to the training of the Somali security forces of the EU is taking shape. It will be a military operation - with a non-executive mandate - led by the EU (and not a civilian mission like in the Congo). A working document was presented by the politico-military group and discussed at the last EU Military Committee. And the objective is that the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence, meeting in Brussels on 16 and 17 November next, approve not joint action (this seems a little hasty), but at least the strategic principle.

First phase: 2000 soldiers. The objective is to form quickly about 2000 troops”, General Bentegeat told the press, after his last intervention at the EU military committee. " A figure that did not come out of our hat but was requested by the United Nations ». Although most countries are now proactive, and some points have already been resolved, three major questions arise

1st question: where to train soldiers? Three places were mentioned: Djibouti, Uganda, Kenya.
But the exact place "remains to be definedr
».
Each has advantages and disadvantages. In Djibouti as in Kenya, it is easier to find people speaking Somali. But this is more delicate on the geopolitical level (with a risk of destabilization of these countries, especially in Djibouti). In Kampala (Uganda), the advantage is to have a more secure base, where the Amisom soldiers are also trained.

2nd question: how will they be reintegrated ? Reintegration and the payment of salaries in particular raise questions for the military. " How will these soldiers be reintegrated? And above all, how will they be retained? We must avoid training people who will then turn against the Somali government explains, in fact, General Bentegeat.

3rd question: how to pay them and who will pay them ? Several options for financing salaries were discussed. " Both internal and external resources ". We know that the European budget cannot finance these salaries: “ there is no question of the Commission ensuring payment national soldiers “says one of its managers. The same impossibility exists on the side of the African Union, at least directly. It is also difficult to provide the money directly to the Somali government, with the risk of evaporation and of not finally seeing the soldiers paid, and above all the impossibility of ensuring control “Explains an expert on the file. Funding is one thing, destination control is another. The establishment of a "trust fund" fed by several countries, under the control of the African Union, assisted by the European Union, could thus be a working hypothesis.

The EU will not be alone. " The leadership of the operation will remain (moreover) under cover of the United Nations ". Which seems to mean that a Security Council resolution will have to be obtained. Existing resolutions do not cover this activity. The EU will not be alone:
« Other organizations (the African Union in particular) and other countries (the United States in particular, but Russia is also interested) will be associated” specified General Bentegeat.

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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