EUSEC RD Congo extended

BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, September 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Council today extended the mandate of the EU mission to provide advice and assistance for Security Sector Reform in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (EUSEC RD Congo) until 30 June 2015.

This decision extends the transition period, during which the mission will have a reduced staff and will focus on preparing the transfer of most of its duties to a major programme to support defence reform in the Democratic Republic of the Congo under the 11th European Development Fund.

From 30 June 2015 until 30 June 2016, EUSEC RD Congo will be preserved as a CSDP "Micromission”, maintaining the EU's support to the Congolese military authorities for activities which cannot be supported from the European Development Fund, such as strategic advice and support to military schools.

The mission will continue assisting the Congolese authorities on the implementation of reforms in the Congolese army (FARDC) by providing advice at the strategic level as well as further support to administrative modernisation, setting up of an effective human resource management system for the army, and building a permanent high quality military education system including schools for both officers and non-commissioned officers.

EU SEC RD Congo's headcount will be reduced from 1 October 2014 from 41 currently to 30 personnel and will be further cut as tasks are passed on. A budget of €4.6 million is available until 30 June 2015.

EUSEC RD Congo has supported since 2005 the Congolese authorities in rebuilding an army that could guarantee security throughout the whole country, permitting the conditions necessary to stabilisation, restoration of state services and economic and social development. In close cooperation and coordination with other actors in the international community, the mission is focusing its efforts on activities that directly contribute to the structural stabilisation of the FARDC and the improvement of its operational capabilities, in accordance with the principles of good governance and respect for human rights, integrating all actions in the gender perspective.

To date, the mission's accomplishments include the support to the legal framework for the reform of the army, helping to set up a nationwide basic military education system for officers and noncommissioned officers, and the establishment of both a biometric census and a payment system for all personnel of the FARDC. EUSEC RD Congo has contributed to more transparent financial procedures in the FARDC and to modernising the management of military arms and munitions stockpiles.

Colonel Jean-Louis Nurenberg has been the Head of Mission since October 2014. Currently,

10 EU Member States and the United States of America contribute to the mission.