The Council of the European Union will be extending the EU Capacity Building Mission in Mali (EUCAP Sahel Mali) for training the country’s security forces until January 31, 2023.
Concerning the extension, the European Council said a budget of more than €89 million (US$108 million) has been allocated to the mission for the period from January 15, 2021 to January 31, 2023.
Also decided by the Council is “the adjustment of the mission’s mandate by supporting a gradual redeployment of Mali’s civilian administrative authorities to the center of Mali,” according to the council’s statement.
The Council of the European Union also announced that the objectives of the Regional Advisory and Coordination Cell have been adapted to enhance “the cooperation and coordination between G5 Sahel structures and G5 Sahel countries and the regionalization of CSDP [European Union Common Security and Defense Policy] action.”
The Bamako-based EUCAP Sahel Mali is an EU “civilian mission” which was launched in January 2015 within the CSDP after an official invitation by the government of Mali at the time, seeking the EU’s support for its internal security forces in reasserting the authority of the government over the whole of the country when the crisis in Northern Mali had left large parts of the country under the control of various armed factions, according to the European Council.
EUCAP Sahel Mali provides assistance and advice to the country’s national police, the national gendarmerie and the national guard in the implementation of security reform in close coordination with other international partners, including the Delegation of the European Union and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
Starting January 2021, the Mission of EUCAP Sahel Mali has been headed by Hervé Flahaut, a French police General with over 30 years of professional experience.
There also are two CSDP missions present in the region as part of the EU’s integrated approach to security and development in the Sahel, EUTM Mali, which contributes to strengthening the capabilities of the Malian Armed Forces through the provision of military advice, training, education and mentoring, and EUCAP Sahel Niger, which supports the fight against organised crime and terrorism in Niger.