The EUAVSEC mission in South Sudan launched (maj2)

(BRUSSELS2 - updated) The Council of Ministers of Justice failed to approve on Thursday (7 June) the launch of the mission to secure Juba airport in South Sudan. Mission called "EUAVSEC South Sudan". There is no nickname yet. If you have an idea, for a nickname a bit sexy than these few letters, don't hesitate... 🙂

(Updated Fri June 8) This point was to appear on the Board's agenda as an A point (without discussion). But it had to be removed at the last moment. Several Member States have in fact entered parliamentary reservations. These reserves are purely « formal », it is estimated that the European diplomatic service (EEAS). " We expect no objections on substance » I was so told. But they are somewhat delaying the adoption of this decision, which should thus “appear on one of the next councils”. Maybe next week.

(Updated, Mon June 18) It was finally the Council of Ministers of Agriculture that adopted the decision to launch EUAVSEC South Sudan. States having lifted their parliamentary reservation. Recruitment of the team continues. Read also: The EUAVSEC mission in South Sudan approved by the 27

Securing Juba airport according to international standards

Euavsec will be a civilian mission of the PeSDC and will have three objectives. First of all, to ensure the security of the airport against external risks (terrorism, drugs, etc.). It is not a question of air safety (airworthiness, etc.). The stakes are not negligible. It is a question of preventing this airport - which aims to be an airport of international standard - from becoming a gateway for possible terrorists or trafficking of all kinds. Then, it is necessary to train the personnel and guide them in their daily mission (the mission will however not have an "executive mandate", that is to say that it is the South Sudanese who will always be in charge of security , the Europeans only intervening alongside them in support). Finally, European experts will work with the airport authority and the South Sudanese Ministry of Transport to help implement and codify the various security rules (advisory and assistance mission).

Preliminary mission

A first team of 6-8 people, precursors, should be deployed in the field by the end of July. And all the staff should follow in successive waves between September and December. This will make it possible to reach full operational capacity by the end of the year. At this stage, there should be 64 people - 43 European experts and 21 local - The budget will be 12,5 million euros. The duration of the mission is planned for an initial period of 19 months, including a preparatory and development phase of 7 months maximum.

The mission headquarters will be located in Juba. It is the Head of Mission (to be named) who will be directly and fully responsible for the control and command (C2) of the mission in the theatre, under the authority of the EU Civilian Operations Commander in Brussels, H. Haber. The Member States will thus have to transfer the operational control (OpCon) of their personnel that they will detach for this mission. Part of the staff will, in fact, be recruited in the form of secondment from the Member States, the other part by direct contract concluded by the EU (it's quite classic!).

A mission prepared for more than a year

South Sudan saw its recognition endorsed by the UN by Security Council resolution 1996, adopted on July 8, 2011, which at the same time created a mission - the United Nations Assistance Mission in the Republic of the South - Sudan (MANUSSR) - with a maximum of 7 military and 000 police, with a mandate to "consolidate peace and security", to help establish conditions conducive to development in the Republic of South Sudan and to "strengthen the capacity of the Government to administer the country effectively and democratically" (read the text of the resolution).

On the European side, the 27 had adopted a general approach on the independence of the new State on June 20, envisaging the deployment of a PeSDC mission to reinforce security around the airport, and subsequently to have a mission extended to the management of the borders of South Sudan. The mission's Crisis Management Concept (CMC) was approved on January 23, 2012, following an official invitation from the South Sudanese Transport Minister to the EU High Representative, welcoming a mission from European Union.

Read in particular!

• 3,5 PeSDC missions in the starting blocks
• Sanctions against Sudan(s)?
• Atmosphere of war in Sudan, EU calls for calm and troop withdrawal
• South Sudan: the 27 want to review the copy (Maj)
• The mandate of the EU Special Representative in Sudan amended
• The EU concerned about the situation in South Sudan
• The PSC approves the principle of a CSDP mission in South Sudan
• The mission in South Sudan comes up against a tricolor questioning
• An assessment mission to South Sudan. Soon an EU delegation in Juba?
• 200 million euros for South Sudan (updated)
• What can the EU do in South Sudan?