The experience of European defense seen from Kinshasa. What to take back for Africa?
(B2 in Kinshasa) I pack my bags, in the Congolese capital, after a week spent at CHESD, the college of advanced studies of strategy and defense, which trains future executives of the Congolese army and those of neighboring countries, in as part of training provided by the French institute Themiis.

A few days to talk about the European Union, the PSDC in front of generals and colonels from the DR Congo, but also from the Central African Republic and Congo Brazzaville (The CHESD is, in fact, reputed to be the Regional Strategic Excellence Center of the African Union for central Africa). A great experience (let's not be afraid of words).
Curiosity and sharpness
Our Congolese (DR Congo and Congo Brazzaville) and Central African friends are curious about the functioning of the European Union, its faults and its capabilities. I encountered an attention and a curiosity, which I would perhaps not have encountered in front of the same French audience (sorry for my friends from the IHEDN ;-). I was confronted with good quality group work, it must be said, especially when we know the working conditions of these 'students': no electricity and therefore no internet some evenings. Their 'restitution' which took place at the end of the lessons is really worth the detour. The group work object was entitled: “ Which European elements seem transposable to the African Union, or not? What pitfalls to avoid? What specificities to take into account? »
Lessons to learn
Africans are taking up several lessons from the European Union: the European Parliament, the Monetary Union and the common market (which seems to them a plus), the opening of borders - and in terms of defense - mutual assistance and the clause of solidarity, the integrated approach to conflicts and crises. On the other hand, they believe that the European model of crisis management intervention outside borders is “not not transposable ". Not at all, the officers explained to me, because here “ most of our crises and threats are internal to our states ».
A few pitfalls to avoid
The list of pitfalls to avoid is also interesting because it presents itself as a mirror to our difficulties. Europe thus appears to them as the symbolism of several elements:
- lack of assertive leadership;
- sterile rivalries between states;
- the lack of a common vision on the running of the Union and common strategic interests;
- the lack of a real global strategy on the security of the Union;
- disagreement over the perception of threats;
- reliance on NATO for security;
- the lethargy in building up the European force;
- the strong support in the polls, but the weak consensus on external intervention.
They also notice serious flaws in our breastplate:
- the high representative is a 'super diplomat', but is not a decision-maker. The decision-making method remains by consensus;
- Europe that protects is a slogan, but is not a strategy;
- thereglobal strategy' has a policy in name only;
- there are no troops available and the failure of the notion of battle group ;
- equipment purchases which remain national, without European preference.
What more can be said ? They summed it up pretty well in a few 'bullet points' the situation. Instead of having consulting and audit missions at European level entrusted to external companies, a good team of African officers would perhaps be just as useful 😉
Recommendations
A political will is necessary » estimate our soldiers who do not have their tongue in their pocket. “ It takes a will to do something concrete “: implement a defense fund, have contributions from member countries, to finance projects.
For an African Defense Fund
Undeniably, the European Defense Fund appealed to them. This is one of the main elements that they retain as a 'recommendation' to be transposed to the African Union. “ This is missing in Africa » explains the group’s reporting officer. “ We must also promote the emergence of the African defense industry. Some manufacture weapons, others ammunition. We must pool all our possibilities, integrate a co-financing mechanism, and promote a defense policy »
…and a joint command
Another key element, the military joint command, of the MPCC type to enable the African standby force or the multinational company Central Africa (FOMAC) to be effective and to react quickly. However, some rules must be changed: currently, you cannot put two battalions on the same command. " This must change ».
Non-interference and compliance with agreements
At the political level, they believe that two principles must become the rule: non-interference and respect for agreements. Africans must learn to not interfere in the affairs of others ". They must also respect the signed agreements, the commitments. " Very often we sign agreements in the morning, we violate them at night ».
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
The limits of the exercise
Senior officers are well aware of the limitations of the exercise. Some elements are not transposable. “ The continent faces multiple, internal threats. There are 55 member states where the European Union has (only) 28 member states. » The geographical area, too, has nothing to do with it: "29,9 million km2 against 4.4 million km2". The standards for membership in the organization “ are very different »: standards in the European Union, no standards in the African Union. The African Union has “not not financial autonomy " of the European Union " There aren't as many resources. There is no operating budget. State budgets themselves are weak. There is no common currency. »