EU appoints French general as commander of military operation in Central African

The EU's Political and Security Committee Tuesday announced the selection of Major General Philippe Ponties of France as Operation Commander for the EU military operation in the Central African Republic. Ponties will now start the operational planning together with the Operational Headquarters in Larissa, Greece. Today's decision comes in the wake of the recent approval of a crisis management concept for a military operation under the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy, noted the Committee in a statement. The operation is to contribute, for up to six months, to a safe and secure environment in the Bangui area, with a view to handing over to the African Union. In doing so, the EU force would support international efforts to protect the populations most at risk and the free movement of civilians, it added.