EU to begin training of Malian army in April

European Union (EU) trainers will start training the first battalion of the Malian army from 2 April, Brigadier General Francois Lecointre, the commander of the EU training mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) told a news conference in Brussels Tuesday. He said that the mission will include 200 European trainers supported by a 150 strong protection force and 150 logistical and medical support staff. The headquarters of the mission is located in Bamako while the military training will take place in Koulikor, 60 kms north east of Bamako. The mission will last 15 months. The costs of the mission is estimated at 12.3 million euro. The French General said initially four battalions of the Malian army will be trained and the average duration of training for each battalion will be two-and-a-half months. The firt Malain army battalion would have completed the training in July, he noted.