The EU Military Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM RCA)

SUMMARY OF:

Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/610 on a European Union CSDP Military Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM RCA)

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION?

The decision announces a European Union (EU) common security and defence policy military training mission to contribute to reforming the defence sector within the Central African Republic as part of the security sector reform process coordinated by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

KEY POINTS

Current mission

Working towards the goal of a modernised, effective and democratically accountable Central African Armed Forces (FACA), the EU Military Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM RCA):

provides strategic advice to the Central African Republic’s Ministry of Defence and the FACA general staff aiming to create capable security forces under democratic control;
educates the FACA in non-operational areas, including human rights, international humanitarian law and international standards on gender issues;
protects civilians, the United Nations women, peace and security (WPS) agenda, and the children and armed conflict (CAAC) agenda;
advises FACA officer training establishments on creating a capable leadership education system;
trains the FACA, if the EU Political and Security Committee (PSC) decides that conditions are met;
supports efforts to foster EU values, promote EU action and expose violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law by foreign forces in the Central African Republic;
provides security and rule-of-law expertise to the EU delegation to the Central African Republic;
provides coherent integrated support to the Central African Republic’s government and security forces in conjunction with the EU Advisory Mission in the Central African Republic (EUAM RCA) and other international bodies, in particular the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic.

EU Mission Commander and headquarters

The Director of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) is appointed EUTM RCA Mission Commander.
The MPCC is the static command and control structure at the military strategic level outside the area of operations, responsible for the operational planning and conduct of the EUTM RCA.
Mission force headquarters is in Bangui and operates under the command of the Mission Force Commander.
A support cell in Brussels is included in the MPCC until it achieves full operational capacity.

Political control, strategic direction and military direction

Responsible to the Council of the European Union and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the PSC exercises political control and strategic direction.
The EU Military Committee monitors the performance of the EUTM RCA under the responsibility of the EU Mission Commander.

Non-EU countries

Non-EU countries may be invited to take part in the mission. Countries making significant military contributions will have the same rights and obligations in terms of day-to-day management of the mission as EU Member States taking part in the mission.

Project cell

The EUTM RCA has a project cell to identify and implement projects, financed by the EU, Member States or participating non-EU countries, which are consistent with its objectives and contribute to the mission.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DECISION APPLY?

The decision launching the mission took effect on 19 April 2016. Subject to a strategic assessment to be conducted by the PSC no later than March 2024, the EUTM RCA will end on 19 September 2024.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

European Union Training Mission in Central African Republic (European External Action Service)
Delegation of the European Union to the Central African Republic (European External Action Service)
EU missions and operations (European External Action Service)
Military Planning and Conduct Capability (European Council – Council of the European Union).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/610 of 19 April 2016 on a European Union CSDP Military Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM RCA) (OJ L 104, 20.4.2016, pp. 21–26).

Successive amendments to Decision (CFSP) 2016/610 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.