The extension of the EUFOR RCA operation approved by the ministers? Necessary (updated)
(BRUSSELS2 - exclusive) The Foreign Ministers of the European Union should have approved, this Monday (October 20) in Luxembourg (*), the three-month extension of the European military stabilization operation in the Central African Republic (EUFOR Rca ), until mid-March 2015.
Item removed from the agenda
(Update) Unfortunately, the item has been removed from the agenda, pending the outcome of the discussion at the United Nations Security Council in New York. This withdrawal (requested by France according to our information) does not mean " no political disagreement “, Confirmed to B2, an expert on the file. The political and security committee (COPS) had agreed to the extension. It is a question of obtaining from the United Nations the surety for the extension of the mission. As well as detailed on the Club (read: Notebook (17.10.2014)), what was planned was just a political agreement. The extension decision will be made later. " Work is underway in the various groups of the Council ».
A necessity to overcome the instability
This extension is a necessity in the face of the situation which is far from being stabilized as evidenced by the incident last Wednesday (read: In Bangui. A game-changing incident?). But also because the transfer is not yet really assured with the UN forces. For the time being, MINUSCA is ensuring its rise in power, first of all with the troops of Misca (the African force) who have changed berets, but also with the more traditional contributions of the United Nations such as the Pakistanis (who have already mourned one of their own killed in incidents).
A first force generation conference
The main concern for EUFOR officials is to have enough forces to ensure a continuous presence on the ground, in the two districts (the 3rd and the 5th) which are assigned to it, the airport sector having to pass under MINUSCA control by the end of the year. " We need 6 sections (**) minimum, 8 would be better to ensure the necessary number of patrols in the districts which are entrusted to the European force, explained a specialist in the file to B2. A force generation conference should be held on October 30. In the absence of an extension, preparations for the departures were already to begin in the coming days or weeks (by November 15).
(NGV to Bangui)
A suivre : on patrol with the police •
Read also (on the Club): Green light from the UN for the extension of the EUFOR RCA operation
(*) The EU Council of Ministers meets 3 months out of 12 in Luxembourg instead of Brussels
(**) A section comprises about 40 people. We are talking here about "mobile" sections, intended to go out on patrol. To this must be added the various support structures, the special extraction forces, the medical service, the command, etc.
(maj) Paper updated at 19 p.m. with the elements of change on the agenda
