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Latest news from EU Peacekeeping Missions (CSDP) – March 2014

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Hargeisa (Somalia). Opening of an EUCAP Nestor office 

(Credits: EUCAP Nestor)
(Credits: EUCAP Nestor)

The European Maritime Capacity Building Mission in the Horn of Africa and Indian Ocean (EUCAP Nestor) has opened an office in the city of Hargeisa, north-west Somalia (300 km south of Djibouti) , in the presence of the Somali Prime Minister, Mr Abdirahman Abdillahi Ismail Zeylai. It is the first office of a PeSDC mission on Somali soil. Legal, policing and maritime security experts will be deployed there, who will work with their Somali counterparts to design and deliver maritime security and governance training and advisory programs.

Djibouti. Delivery of equipment by EUCAP Nestor

EUCAP Nestor handed over maritime security equipment to the Djibouti Coast Guard, as well as to the Navy. The two institutions will receive, among other things, binoculars, bulletproof vests and protective helmets for the combat teams. The Coast Guard also received 10 GPS navigators. This discount is accompanied by training in intervention techniques by European experts, as recalled by the head of the mission, Etienne de Poncins. “This handover of equipment is only part of our work and will contribute to better surveillance of maritime space and navigation safety. »

Koulikoro (Mali). End of training of GTIA Balanzan

(Credits: EUTM Mali)
The Balanzan battalion will be deployed in the north in a few weeks (Credits: EUTM Mali)

After twelve weeks, the training of the 730 Malian soldiers of the Balazan battalion by the Europeans of EUTM Mali has come to an end. A ceremony took place on March 18, 2014, at the Koulikoro training camp, in the presence of the highest Malian military authorities and the civil and military authorities of the international missions in place in Mali. This is the fourth battalion formed by the European mission (EUTM Mali). Colonel Uhrich, who heads the Koulikoro training center, expressed confidence in their ability to carry out their mission in the north of the country. “Balanzan has proven its ability to conduct a coordinated, autonomous maneuver at the level of the combined arms battle group (GTIA), within the framework of an offensive mission”.

Niamey (Niger). Human rights in the fight against terrorism

A seminar was held in Niamey in mid-March on "the protection of human rights in the fight against terrorism through the criminal procedure », organized by the European mission EUCAP Sahel Niger with the Danish Institute for Human Rights. Objective: to sensitize the participants (coming from State administrations, security forces and civil society), to familiarize them with the issue of human rights in the context of the fight against terrorism and organized crime. The speakers thus located the various legal texts on terrorism and organized crime at the international, regional and national levels. The actors of the fight against terrorism were also able to exchange their points of view and experience. The seminar was also an opportunity to strengthen existing cooperation and to initiate or include cooperation with civil society actors, administrative and customary authorities (traditional chiefdoms and decentralized entities, etc.).

Chisinau (Moldova). EUBAM Moldova falsified identity document detection training

A European instructor explains how to detect a falsified document (Credits: EUBAM Moldavia)
A European instructor explains how to detect a falsified document (Credits: EUBAM Moldavia)

Around XNUMX border policemen and staff from the Office for Migration and Asylum of the Moldovan Interior Ministry took part in the training organized by experts from EUBAM Moldova Ukraine, to detect false travel documents. “False identity documents are a problem not only for Moldova, but also a global challenge, especially in light of international terrorism and human trafficking. Many crimes can be avoided or solved by the detection of false documents » explained Matthias Ambrecht, the European border police expert. The training focused on Schengen visa forgery methods, selected foreign passports, but also the detection of imposters using legal documents.

Sarajevo. Conference "Gender in the Defense Sector"

General Andrés Szücs, Chief of Staff of the EUFOR Althea mission, inaugurated the conference "Gender in the Defense Sector" which took place on March 10, at Camp Butmir, in Sarajevo. “The number of women in uniform is constantly increasing. Nevertheless, I must say that we are only at the beginning of this process. » Facilitated by Nikolina Marčeta, the Mission's Gender Adviser, the conference provided the authorities of the Ministry and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina with information on gender mainstreaming in peace support training and the importance of diversity in the defense sector.

Kabul. End of mission for Canadians

The sixteen Canadians of the EUPOL Afghanistan mission are returning home after a year of mission for some. This marks the end of Canadian involvement in the European police mission.

(information collected by Leonor Hubaut)

Leonor Hubaut

© B2 - Bruxelles2 is a French online media that focuses on political Europe (powers, defence, foreign policy, internal security). It follows and analyzes developments in European policy, unvarnished and without concessions. Approved by the CPPAP. Member of SPIIL. Please quote "B2" or "Bruxelles2" in case of recovery Leonor Hubaut is a journalist. Graduated in international relations from the Free University of Brussels (specialization in globalization). She covers for B2 the work of the European Parliament, CSDP missions and African issues. Sahel specialist.

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