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Who participates in the EUFOR RCA operation – the state of the forces

BadgeEUFOR Rca 2014-02-27 17.28.04(BRUXELLES2 - exclusive) As our club readers already know, here is the state of the forces making up Operation EUFOR RCA (Central African Republic). There are a total of 13 nations contributing on the ground, which is ultimately one in two Member States. While 28 nations in total (the "28" except Denmark + Georgia) will participate in the operation. Many States have, in fact, preferred to send personnel to the General Staff located in Larissa (quieter, less complicated politically). It is, despite everything, a political signal, of the desire to be present, at least symbolically, in the face of the gravity of the situation in the Central African Republic.

infantry companies

4 infantry companies should be able to be formed:

  • one provided by the France.
  • the second provided by theEstonia (55 soldiers, read: Estonia confirms notable participation in EUFOR Rca Bangui), the Latvia (1 section) and which must be completed.
  • the third provided by a non-EU member state = the Georgia. Read : EUFOR RCA. Long live the Georgians?
  • A company of gendarmerie will be set up made up of French (55), Spanish Guardia Civil (25) and Polish (approx. 50) personnel. NB: In the end, there would be no elements of the GNR, the Portuguese gendarmerie, the 27 men who were nevertheless planned and had trained for this purpose. " Government policy decision Interior Minister Miguel Macedo told our colleagues in Lusa. " Faced with the various possibilities, the government finally chose to contribute to the operation by deploying an aircraft and air force personnel. ».

Additional elements

L'Spain provides the manpower of special forces, intended to be used as force of extraction and rapid reaction (50 soldiers), in addition to 10 officers and non-commissioned officers divided between the Staff of operation (OHQ) in Larissa and Force Headquarters in Bangui (FHQ) and personnel from the Guardia Civil.

THEItaly provides deployment support engineers — intended to prepare the ground for the camp on the airport (approximately 40 soldiers).

La Finland provides civil-military cooperation elements (CIMIC) and anti-IED elements (improvised explosive devices): about 24 men/women (including 4 officers at the General Staff)

Le Portugal provides a tactical transport aircraft (type C-130) available on the ground with a team of around fifty soldiers (pilots, mechanics, ground handling).

La France will provide the remaining complement, both for the operational staff and above all for the staff on site (in Bangui) as well as for the necessary support elements, in particular medical support (Role 1), intended to complete Role 2 – already provided by the French elements of Operation Sangaris.

L'Germany will ensure long-distance medical evacuations, with a medicalized Airbus. It will put personnel in the two General Staffs: in Bangui (FHQ) and in Larissa (OHQ). A commitment authorization for 80 soldiers has been requested from the Bundestag.

Strategic transport

THEGermany also provides hours of strategic transport, in particular via Russian Antonov An-124 aircraft under the Salis (NATO) contract. This has an essential advantage: a limited political commitment, a zero military commitment without requiring parliamentary authorization. Read also: Angela: “never without my Antonov”!

La Sweden must also provide strategic transport (in the form of C-17 transport hours), in particular for the military of Estonia and Latvia (which each provide 1 combat section). And the United Kingdom should also provide transport, on a bilateral basis, to help the Georgian company.

Headquarter

Two headquarters are established. One is located in Larissa (Greece) intended to ensure the strategic command of the operation (OHQ) – which deals with strategy, political analysis, relations with European and international institutions, etc. —, commanded by French General Philippe Pontiès. There Greece ensures the logistical framework and the functioning of the operations headquarters (in Larissa).

The other HQ is located in the Central African Republic, in Bangui, on the airport site, intended to ensure the day-to-day tactical command of the operation (FHQ), provided by French General Thierry Lion.

Other proposals

Note that the Romania, which had made a force proposal, withdrew it mainly because of the unstable situation in Ukraine. The Belgium, after procrastinating, proposed elements accompanied by a financial condition (supported by the European budget), which could not be fulfilled. About the Hungary, his proposal was finally judged not necessary or not sufficient. the Montenegro, invited to participate, as well as Moldova, did not really follow up despite the official letter of invitation.

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

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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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