News from the Federal Cabinet
On Wednesday the Federal Cabinet agreed on a training mission for police forces in West African states as part of an EU Mission. The goal of the mission is to help security forces in Benin, Togo, Ghana and the Ivory Coast to combat terrorism. Questions and answers about the deployment.
2 Min. Lesedauer
As a first step, federal and state police officers will be training security forces from West African states in order to help them combat terrorism.
Foto: imago/ecomedia/robert fishman
What did the Federal Cabinet approve?
Federal and state police officers from Germany are to take part in the European Union’s mission in Benin, Togo, Ghana and the Ivory Coast (EU security and defence initiative in support of West African countries of the Gulf of Guinea – EUSDI GoG).
Up to 15 police officers may be deployed. They will take up their work on 11 December 2023. The initial duration of the EU Mission is two years.
What is the goal of the mission?
The goal is to build civil security and military defence force capacity in order to combat terrorism more effectively. This is particularly relevant in vulnerable areas in the northern parts of Benin, Togo, Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
The mission will focus on advice and training for security and defence forces. Another goal is to strengthen the rule of law and trust between citizens and security forces.
Why is Germany participating in this mission?
Recent political developments in Niger illustrate that it is getting harder for neighbouring states to protect themselves against destabilising influences from the Sahel region, where terrorist attacks have become more common in recent years. The mission will seek to help prevent a further spread of these unstable conditions to neighbouring countries on the Gulf of Guinea.
It is an opportunity for the EU to implement concrete measures in the region and thus prove itself as a reliable partner in the field of security policy. In addition, the mission is to contribute to strengthening ties between the West African states and the EU.
What is the legal basis for the deployment?
The legal basis is the mission agreed by the EU Council on 3 August 2023. The EUSDI GoG Mission was adopted in the Council Decision (CFSP: Common Foreign and Security Policy) 2023/1599. This deployment is designed as a civil-military CSDP (common security and defence policy) mission with the goal to provide advice and training for civil security forces and military defence forces. The mission is taking place at the explicit request of Benin, Ghana, Togo and the Ivory Coast.