Responsibility transfer to M'Poko airport

(BRUSSELS2) The European military officially handed over the baton today (November 17) to the blue helmets of MINUSCA. A symbolic transfer. The transfer of responsibility between the EUFOR Infantry Unit - provided essentially by a Georgian company - and the Gabonese contingent of MINUSCA lasted, in fact, over several weeks. During this time, the two forces carried out joint operations “ in order to maintain an identical security commitment for the benefit of air operations and the population we confirm on the side of EUFOR RCA.

One of EUFOR's objectives has been achieved

For the European soldiers placed under the orders of the French generals Lion and Pontiès, this ceremony of handing over instructions constitutes, in any case, " one of the achievements of the 'bridge' function towards MINUSCA, within the framework of the gradual transition between the two forces” which should be completed in March 2015. The European mission "will, however, continue to provide support to the Blue Helmets deployed on M'Poko we add to EUFOR RCA, in particular by its Engineering Unit. The European genius (the Italians in particular) has thus recently restored the access road to the stopover, as well as the airport control structures.

The airport, the lung of the country

Securing the airport and its surroundings is a priority for the international forces. The airport is the only international access point in the country » do not hesitate to recall the various soldiers who know the region well and, with its airport zone, it is an essential « lung » for Bangui as for the international forces (Sangaris, EUFOR, UN, NGOs, etc.) deployed on the spot .

(NGV)