West Africa - SahelMissions Operations

EUTM Mali. The volunteers and the hideouts!

(BRUSSELS2, exclusive) The first force generation conference for the deployment of the European training mission of the Malian army (EUTM Mali) was not a failure. Far from there. Many Member States have made interesting proposals. And not only the "regulars" of European missions...

All... or almost: the east, the south, the north have responded!

The countries of Eastern Europe have thus almost all made a proposal. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania as well as Poland or Slovenia were among them. The Romanians have also warned that they have begun to select French-speaking officers. The "small" countries (Luxembourg, Cyprus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia) also responded, offering who one, who two officers, or even several (Estonia). The Nordic countries - Finland, Sweden + Norway (which is not an EU member) - made a joint proposal. Which is smart. Ireland, a neutral country, already well engaged in the EUTM Somalia mission, insisted on proposing a team (EU presidency requires). Ditto for Greece and Portugal, struggling with drastic budget cuts. Several countries (Spain, Poland, United Kingdom) have increased their numbers compared to their first proposal and Germany, despite the constitutional reserve, has made a first proposal. There were thus very few absentees in this first round...

Belgium “absent”: a government mess?

Some countries, however, have not yet made any official proposal, notably Belgium. Which is surprising when you know the Belgian propensity to participate in this type of mission. Apparently it's more of a "government plumbing" problem. The logistical support for Operation Serval was provided very quickly by Pieter de Crem, the Minister of Defence. Too quickly apparently even. Because some ministries have not been put in the loop. It is rumored that Reynders would be a little angry at De Crem's impetuosity. But the shot of "limestone" digested, it should go back to normal...

The Netherlands: smooth talkers but stingy

Another absentee: the Netherlands. A country which nitpicks on all the details but does not offer much “says an expert on the file. Apparently the Hague does not feel very concerned about the Sahel. The director of the Dutch Center for Strategic Studies, Rob de Wijk was also worried about it on Friday. “More than Iraq and Afghanistan, Mali represented a “ test case for Europe, he writes in the daily Trouw Friday. " In the Sahel, the situation is serious and is truly destabilizing the whole of North Africa and the Middle East. This has major implications for European security. The French have understood this well. »

The training and staff "slots" are about to be filled

As a result, according to an initial assessment, most of the functions in the General Staff seem to have been fulfilled. And many "slots" of training teams have, in front of them, a proposal or even several. The problem is now to adjust the proposals to the needs... The problem remains in two main areas: "force protection", medical support (role 2) and medical evacuation. We are bordering on the ridiculous.

The Force a question of the essence of the mission

The "protection force" is about 165 men, according to my information. And no state has yet dared to make any proposals (apart from a small Polish proposal to detect IED improvised explosives). Each taking refuge behind France. However, if France has made a proposal for 90 men (trainers and staff), it does not intend to assume the "protection force", considering that it is already well engaged on the spot. It is also a question of visibility. If there is a European mission, it must be protected by Europeans and not by Frenchmen who will have just added a blue badge to their khaki outfits. Europeans must be visible. It is a question of the very essence of the mission, of operational solidarity and of policy. Otherwise it will be easy to denounce a "French operation".

The Weimar + play the frightened virgins

None of the Weimar (Germany, Poland, Spain, Italy...) has made a really ambitious proposal. There are (good) political reasons for this: the elections in Italy and soon in Germany, the crisis in Italy and Spain, the restructuring of the armies in progress in Poland and Germany, the obligation to obtain beforehand the authorization of Parliament in Germany, and budgetary restrictions everywhere. It's certain. The Spaniards were solicited, according to my information, the Poles as well. But it could also be the Italians. Both Spain and Italy have indeed applied for the post of number 2 of the mission. And it is traditional - as an officer involved in the device reminded B2 - that " the position of number two of the mission goes to the one who makes a decisive proposal ».

Germany in minor mode

We are especially struck by the very low commitment of Berlin in men: 40 according to the first proposal. Or no more than Madrid! It is very very weak for a Nation which claims to play a leading role in Europe, which has committed in Afghanistan nearly 4000 men, was already present in Mali to train the Malian forces (before the coup d'etat) and n there aren't really any budgetary difficulties (at least far less than Spain or Italy). Already for the support to Operation Serval, the Germans had done the "minimum service", offering just 2 Transall C160 (*), less than the Belgians! who also offered helicopters. A European specialist whom I consulted is not very surprised by this German timidity. " Already when we were discussing the risks in the Sahel, a few years ago, a specialist from the BND (the German intelligence services) came to explain to us that, after all, in the Sahel, it was not a question of terrorism, but just organized crime”. For a government that claims to play a leading role in Europe (advocating political union) and even in Africa (the EU's second largest exporter after France, from which it could take first place), there is more a problem...

An incomprehensible and unreadable low commitment

This timidity is all the more incomprehensible... since the political support for the French operation Serval and the EUTM mission is affirmed and repeated many times. There are no major political dissensions on this subject, unlike others (Libya, Syria, Palestine...). And that the operational risk is still "measured". The risk of this "protection force" has thus been largely reduced since the French intervention. Because there are a number of soldiers available, of operational reserve forces if necessary if there is a problem. Moreover, the camp concerned is no longer on the front line, in Markala, but in Koulikoro, much closer to Bamako, and easier to secure. As for the absence of a proposal on role 2, it is even more incomprehensible. Providing medical support couldn't be more "soft". In addition, some countries, such as Germany or Italy, have specialized in this type of capacity. Italy in particular, has developed a project within the European Defense Agency and has a candidate for the number 2 mission, should have positioned itself for this position.

A question of logic

This lack of determined commitment is not abnormal. But to put in resonance with the previous declarations of each other, one will really wonder where is Europe? And if the European commitment of Weimar + is not just wind, intended to amuse the gallery? If, next Tuesday, during the generation of force, the "Weimar +" do not arrive with a structured proposal, even common as the Nordics did, for medical support and force protection, we will indeed be able to ask a question of what are the European armies and the great political declarations for....

To be continued on The B2 club : more details on the proposals of the Member States

(*) This is the official proposal. German transport aviation is, in fact, pooled with French aviation. And certain movements, for example, on European or even African soil do not normally require authorization from the political level as long as it falls within the predefined rules - no engagement in a combat zone in particular.

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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