Civilian CSDP in Mali: protecting the right to culture and joy
The "Ségou'Art Festival sur le Niger" has been for decades a traditional and very popular event for the whole Sahel. It forms an island of joy in a region suffering from islamist attacks and lethal tension between ethnic communities. Over 450 civilians were murdered in the center of the country – a sad record number in a crisis which continues to aggravate since 2012. Not to mention the dozens of Malian soldiers and gendarmes murdered in this conflict.
Malian security services prepared thoroughly to secure the festival and to deter terror attacks on the thousands of civilian festival goers.
Requested by their partners, the civilian CSDP Mission EUCAP Sahel Mali supported for the second time the local administration and the Police, Gendarmerie and National Guard in the safeguarding of the festival and its visitors. The civilian Mission established an inter-service command post in the governor's office enabling the governor to oversee and lead in real time the protective activities of the security services.
Culture and art are part of the Malian way of life, but constitute equally a driver of the country's economic and social development. The civilian CSDP Mission and its tangible support is a concrete example of European and African partnership to increase human security.
Background: Launched in 2015, the civilian EU Capacity Building Mission in Mali supports the restructuring of the Malian internal security forces, providing strategic advice and training. The authorised strength of the Mission is 194 staff.
