The EU will appoint a special representative for the Horn of Africa. The mandate

(BRUSSELS2, exclusive) It took more than three years for the European Union to decide to appoint a special representative" for the Horn of Africa. The Member States did not all agree on this necessity. And the High Representative has long remained skeptical about this creation. Despite everything, the threat of growing piracy, the need for a high-level plenipotentiary in the region and the absence of an ambassador in Somalia, added to the aggravated famine in Somalia and multiple active or recurring conflicts, overcame this reluctance.After discussion in the various working groups (Africa, external relations), the ambassadors of the PSC (the political and security committee of the EU) put the finishing touches to the mandate - which I was able to consult - a mandate which in itself did not give rise to "big talk“As an expert on the matter told me (NB: unlike the mandate of the SR for the Mediterranean and democracy in the Arab world). What, on the other hand, poses a problem is the name of the person in charge.

Appointment process delayed

The nomination process is now in its final phase. Finally, Italy and Denmark had both presented a candidate who had arrived in the pre-selection. But the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, preferred to make a new call for applications to the States. This somewhat delays the appointment process. Thus, while everyone was expecting the Special Representative to be appointed to the Foreign Affairs Council in November (the meeting takes place on 14/11) - at the same time as the approval of a comprehensive strategy for the Horn of Africa - this appointment could be postponed to the December council, according to some specialists in the matter.

Priority: Somalia and piracy

According to the mandate, the special representative will have as a main priority: Somalia (...) conflict and piracy whose root causes lie in the country's instability. For Somalia, the EU has two objectives: support the role (of) the United Nations in fostering a credible and inclusive political process » and contribute « actively, with its regional and international partners, in the implementation of the Djibouti peace agreement and its post-transition arrangements ". On piracy, it is " develop and implement a coherent, effective and balanced EU strategy in this respect, which encompasses all aspects of EU action, political, security and development, and be, for the international community, including the region (Eastern Africa and Indian Ocean), the EU's main spokesperson on this subject »

A mandate for dialogue, representation, visibility

The mandate of the EUSR has a fairly classic aspect. He understands the Dialogue » with relevant stakeholders in the region; the " representation » of the Union in the competent international bodies; there " visibilite " of the EU in particular " in supporting (provided) crisis management and prevention » ; the " close cooperation with his United Nations counterpart and the EU special representatives present in Sudan or at the African Union, etc.

The EUSR will also have some specific functions: follow all the " initiatives likely to lead to the implementation of the Djibouti peace agreement and its post-transition arrangements (institutions, rule of law, security, justice, national reconciliation) while ensuring the respect for human rights and improving humanitarian access to southern and central Somalia in particular ».

Its geographical area thus remains quite large since it will concern all of geographical East Africa: Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda. And for "questions related to piracy, he may " also deal with countries or regional entities beyond this area ". We think in particular of Yemen, the Seychelles...

Activate and better coordinate the fight against piracy

The fight against piracy is the subject of significant attention in which the function of special representative will allow - we hope - to activate certain projects a little and to better coordinate all the actions carried out by the various European actors. In particular, for the EU, this is actively support the development of regional maritime capabilities and help bring pirates to justice as well as ensure that the root causes of piracy in Somalia are appropriately addressed ". It is also about continuing to “provide support to the region (East Africa and Indian Ocean) in the implementation of its anti-piracy strategy and action plan as well as Djibouti's code of conduct. »

The EUSR will have the task of " maintain an overview of all EU actions through the EEAS, the Commission and Member States and maintain regular high-level political contacts with countries in the region affected by piracy from of Somalia, with regional organizations, the United Nations Contact Group on Counter-Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, the United Nations and other key actors ". It will thus participate in the work of the international contact group on Somalia.

Monitor existing or potential conflicts

Not content with this mission, the EUSR will also be instructed to keep an eye on the security situation in the region. In particular, he should closely monitor issues relating to the regional dimension of the Somali crisis, including terrorism, arms trafficking, refugee and migrant flows as well as maritime security, piracy and related financial flows ". He may also be interested in border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea and the implementation of the Algiers agreement, (to- the initiative of the Nile basin and (to) other problems which arise in the region and which have impact on its security, stability, prosperity ". He will have to "follow carefully the cross-border challenges affecting the Horn of Africa, including the consequences of the humanitarian crises on the political and security levels".

Personally, I consider that this mandate is a little broad, especially since there already exists a special representative for the African Union, another for Sudan, not to mention the one on the Arab revolutions and democracy. Concentrating the mandate on the fight against piracy and the stability of Somalia (which is already a lot) would not have been too much. The slowness with which the European Union will have implemented this mandate, which seems obvious, should also be noted.