Latest news from EU peacekeeping missions and operations – CSDP (April 2020)

(B2) Remote training, knowledge sharing, disinfection of buildings, donations of equipment, online graduation... CSDP missions and operations are trying to adapt to the coronavirus epidemic

Advice and donations - overview

With the idea of ​​using the skills of CSDP missions in the fight against Covid-19, several missions have undertaken to support their host countries in various ways. Thus, the EUBAM Rafah mission (Tel Aviv) donated a mobile clinic and a thermal imaging system (WG520), a device which was installed at the Al Karamah border point between Jordan and the West Bank, connected to a mobile clinic (donation also from EUBAM Rafah), where Ministry of Health employees are deployed. In Georgia, the EUMM Georgia mission explored possibilities of transferring medical equipment to the authorities of the Georgian Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia. In Africa, EUCAP Sahel Mali has had 25.000 masks made for the internal security forces and supplied various medical equipment (infrared thermometers, disinfectant gel). EUCAP Niger also provided various equipment (vehicles, protective equipment, etc.).

Bamako (Mali). Sprayers against Covid-19 

While waiting to be able to resume its activities, it was 'operation decontamination' of the 16 vehicles, 13 rooms, 2 offices and 15 air conditioners at the headquarters (FHQ) of the Malian army training mission (EUTM Mali), Monday, April 27. Details here

Niamey (Niger). And let it roll! 

At the end of April, five new all-terrain vehicles equipped with mobile garages were handed over to Niger's internal security forces (ISF) by the EUCAP Sahel Niger mission. Goal : " more mobility in the bush and maintaining security " in the country.

🚔🛠🚔🛠🚔🛠🚔🛠🚔🛠

5 new all-terrain vehicles equipped with mobile garages given to the FSI for more mobility in the bush and maintaining security in Niger. Thank you @MFA_Lu 🇱🇺 for financial support! #DiscountOfTheWeek pic.twitter.com/NDjXhS3Oj4

— EUCAP Sahel Niger (@EUCAPSahelNiger) April 29, 2020

Pristina (Kosovo). Diving into the dark

The headquarters of the European rule of law mission EULEX Kosovo went dark for two minutes on the night of 27 April. This action was to mark National Missing Persons Day as well as Operation In the darkness of missing persons », organized by several organisations, in particular from civil society. Details here

Dnieper (Ukraine). First online workshop 

Online courses and webinars followed one another for fifteen days of training on maintaining public order. This mission led by the EU Support Mission for Ukrainian Security Forces (EUAM Ukraine) was the first of its kind, for students from the Dnipropetrovsk State University of Internal Affairs. Many of them are involved in policing due to Covid-19 restrictions. Details here

Tunisia. Agreement signed with IOM

The Libyan Border Support Mission EUBAM Libya and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) signed, on 22 April, a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen their cooperation on supporting integrated border management and governance of migrations.

Today IOM and @EUBAMLibya signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation on supporting integrated border management and migration governance in 🇱🇾Libya. pic.twitter.com/QgqBdWgoOk

—IOM Libya (@IOM_Libya) April 22, 2020

Djibouti. Refueling at sea

Operation Atalanta received support from TF 20 on April 53 for refueling at sea. in just 2 hours ". This allowed the units of the European anti-piracy force to extend their range of action without entering a port, thereby reducing the risk of infection in the event of a health crisis. Details here

(credit: EUNAVFOR Atalanta)

Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Exchange of practices around Covid-19

At Camp Butmir, the medical staff of the EUFOR Althea stabilization operation met, on 16 April, epidemiology experts from the Sarajevo Canton Public Health Institute. Objectives: share information and identify improvements in prevention processes. Details here

Mogadishu (Somalia). Graduation ceremony

The Somali army training mission 'EUTM Somalia' concluded two courses on 16 April. That of light infantry (LIC), which trained a hundred soldiers. And that of TtT, which prepared about twenty new qualified Somali trainers to in turn provide basic infantry training to units of the Somali National Army (SNA). Details here

Ramallah (West Bank - Palestinian Territories). Witness protection

EUPOL COPPS mission advisers met their counterparts from the Palestinian Civil Police (PCP) and the Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) on 8 April. Agenda: work on operational procedures for the protection of witnesses in cases of corruption. It was the third meeting organized on this subject. Details here

Bamako (Mali). Police custody and procedure

(Emmanuelle Stroesser, with NGV)

To revise, do not hesitate to obtain the manual on the Common European Security and Defense Policy »

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Other news on CSDP missions published on B2 in April: 

On B2 Pro:

• Civilian CSDP missions struggling to function
• Their formations at a standstill, the EUTM missions are emptying
• Financing and equipping African armies: the mind-boggling ambition of Javier Nart (draft report)
• EU Civilian Advisory Mission in Iraq (EUAM Iraq) extended for one year
• Our file No. 81. The arms embargo control operation off Libya EUNAVFOR Med IRINI

And on the blog:

• Operation Irini soon to be operational (v3)
• Everyone who wants peace in Libya must support Operation Irini (Josep Borrell)
• An operation in the Mediterranean justified the maintenance of the Foch mission
• Operation Irini must have the necessary means to carry out its mandate (General Graziano)
• CSDP military missions continue, but at low speed (v3)