Closing ceremony of courses that had the support of EUTM CAR (October 31^st, 2022)

Introduction

In close coordination and complementarity with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), European Union Training Mission in Central African Republic (EUTM CAR) supports the local government in the implementation of the Security Sector Reform (SSR) by assisting the Central African Armed Forces (FACA). EUTM CAR was launched on 16 July 2016 for an initial period of two years. Most recently, on 28 July 2022, the Council of the European Union renewed the mission's mandate up to 20 September 2023.

The contribution covers two main lines of action, namely providing education to the FACA in non-operational domains and strategic advice to the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and to the FACA General Staff (EMA).

Despite the challenging political and security situation, the work of the EU and EUTM CAR remain highly visible, credible and well appreciated by the political and military authorities from the country, as well as by the international partners.

Education Pillar (EDP)

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In 2022, EDP conducted Quick Impact Courses (QIC), Training of Trainers Courses and Technical Certificates Courses to FACA. Until November, 270 military personnel were certified in a total of 18 courses provided with the support of EUTM CAR.

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A wide range of knowledge and experience has been transmitted by EUTM instructors to officers, non-commissioned officers, corporals and soldiers in the domains of International Humanitarian Law, Leadership, Pedagogy, Topography, First Aid/Healthcare, Administration, Human Resources, Project Management, Logistics, Computer Science, Transmissions, English and French.

These activities also included, in a wider sense, topics such as Human Rights, Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Gender issues, Protection of Civilians and Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC).

Furthermore, the mission is running three Technical Certificates since 5 December 2022 and plans to carry out the six months Course “Diplôme d’Application d’Administration”, starting on January of 2023, in addition to some other QIC and Career’s Courses.

Moreover, it is worth emphasizing that EUTM CAR, through EDP, is working on promoting the perception about the role of Officers’ school in FACA’s education. At this moment, one of the priorities of the mission is to enable the reactivation of this school in Bangui.

Strategic Advice Pillar (SAP)

In general terms, SAP goal is reached when the MoD and EMA respect the principles of SSR and the FACA constitute a reliable and accountable State Institution, contributing to the global effort of reconciliation in CAR. Therefore, EMA should be able to conduct their duties in a sustainable manner, with long term sustainability and able to conduct common planning, coordination and liaison with Internal Security Forces.

During the current year, SAP conducted credible and influential advisory work to the MoD, EMA and FACA Defense Zone Headquarters (EMZD) in Bangui. The pillar was also involved at different decision levels and in different forums, in partnership with governmental and international institutions that operate in the country.

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On a daily basis, the pillar advised the FACA through Working Groups (WG). In addition, SAP supported FACA in bilateral and face-to-face meetings. The WG gathered specialists in domains aimed at developing reference documents like decrees and laws. They were constituted as follows: Defense Policy - Organization and Governance; Operations and Training; Human Resources; Communications and Information Systems - Command and Control; Logistics; Intelligence; Press and Public Information Office; Finance and Budget; Infrastructures and Civil-Military Cooperation.

Finally, SAP also coordinated, propelled and encouraged the running of weekly Executive Committees (COMEX) and Director Committees (CODIR) in close coordination with FACA Project Manager. In these two types of Committees, all documents/texts that would later be presented to the political level were again checked, amended and validated.

Conclusion

In short, it can be concluded that the EUTM CAR has been achieving the goal of supporting the build-up of a modernized, effective, ethnically balanced and democratically accountable FACA. Since July 2016, EUTM CAR has trained and educated more than 9500 FACA personnel; engaged in the training of FACA units and their leaders; and provided advice to the authorities of CAR on a significant amount of regulatory and doctrine documents, including the Defence Sector Reform strategy, the National Defence Plan and the Military Programming Law.