EU launches military training mission in Mali

The EU Foreign Affairs Council on Monday gave the green signal for the launch of the EU mission to support the training and re-organization of the Malian Armed Forces. An advance party has arrived in Bamako on 8 February and will start the expertise and advisory tasks in the coming days. Military instructors are planned to be deployed before the end of March, noted a Council statement. Mali was one of the main topics the Council discussed in its meeting here Monday. The EU High Representative Catherine Ashton commented in press statements that the mission "will support stability in Mali and the Sahel, both now and in the future." The mission will not be involved in combat operations. Brigadier General Fran\ois Lecointre from France is the EU mission commander for around 500 staff in Mali. The common costs of the operation are estimated at 12.3 million euro for the initial mandate of 15 months. Its headquarters will be in Bamako while training is to take place in Koulikoro, added the statement.