EUTM Mali: Council extends training mission with broadened mandate and increased budget
The Council today decided to expand the scope of the mandate of the European Union military mission contributing to the training of the Malian Armed Forces (EUTM Mali). The mission will be able to provide military assistance to the G5 Sahel Joint Force and to national armed forces in the G5 Sahel countries through military advice, training and mentoring. The Council also prolonged the mission’s mandate until 18 May 2024.
The Council also provided an increased indicative budget to the mission of €133.7 million for a four-year period.
The activities of the mission will continue to be conducted in close coordination and cooperation with other actors such as the United Nations, the Barkhane operation and the Economic Community of West African States.
EUTM Mali is part of the EU’s integrated approach to security and development in the Sahel. The mission was established in 2013, at the request of the Malian Government, to respond to the need to strengthen the capabilities of the Malian Armed Forces, the ultimate goal being a safe and secure environment within Malian borders and a reduction of the threat posed by terrorist groups. To this effect, EUTM Mali contributes to improving the operational capacity of the Malian Armed Forces through the provision of military advice, training, education and mentoring. The tasks carried out by the mission are under the control of Mali’s legitimate civilian authorities and do not comprise combat operations.
The headquarters of the mission are located in Bamako, Mali. The commander of the mission is Brigadier General João Boga Ribeiro, a Portuguese national who took up his duties in December 2019.
There are two other CSDP civilian missions in the region: EUCAP Sahel Mali, which assists the internal security forces with reasserting the government’s authority over the whole of the country, and EUCAP Sahel Niger, which supports the fight against organised crime and terrorism in Niger. In addition, a Regional Advisory and Coordination Cell initiates and coordinates capacity-building activities for all G5 countries and the G5 structures with the support of the existing CSDP Missions.
