B2 The Daily of Geopolitical Europe. News. Files. Reflections. Reports

News BlogWest Africa - SahelMissions Operations

Malian release for the European mission EUTM Mali

(BRUXELLES2, exclusive) As well as the readers of club of B2 (on subscription) already know, the decision on the European training mission of the Malian army (EUTM Mali) should have been approved in December. But the absence of a formal invitation led to the postponement of this essential formality for the continuation of the launch of the mission. This invitation was formally made now and received just before the end of the year by Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs. This now allows us to hope that the decision will be adopted quickly. It should be done if necessary by "written procedure, quickly" assured B2 an informed source.

Practical combat training

According to a draft decision (which B2 was able to read) which gives the general framework of the mission, it will have a specific objective: “ train and advise the Malian armed forces in southern Mali (to) help restore their military capabilities and enable them to carry out combat operations aimed at restoring the territorial integrity of Mali ". The whole " under the control of legitimate political authorities ". The initial duration of the mission is planned for 15 months. And its implementation is hoped for in February, at the latest in April.

All the words are important: 1° It is indeed a mission of training and advice, nothing else. 2° It is located in the south of Mali and not in the north, so there is no direct involvement of European trainers in the fighting. 3° Finally, it is not training for training's sake, but operational training for conducting combat operations. 4° And this action aims to replace the military power under the authority of the political power (and not the opposite like the current situation resulting from the coup d'etat).

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).

Comments closed.

s2Member®