The European Union Capacity Building Mission in Niger. (EUCAP Sahel Niger). is a civilian capacity-building mission in

Niger ) , official_languages = , languages_type = National languagesCommon Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). Since 2021, the Head of Mission is Antje Pittelkau, a senior German police officer.

Mandate

The mandate of EUCAP Sahel Niger was last extended by the EU until September 2024. Currently, the Mission is composed of around 130 European experts. Since its inception in 2012, the Mission has been mandated to train and advise the Nigerien internal security forces, notably the Police Nationale, the Gendarmerie and the Garde Nationale, with a focus on combatting terrorism, organised crime and irregular migration. More specifically, support to the country's internal security forces include the following: * Support the security forces in improving their interoperability and with establishing common operating strategies. * Support the security forces in improving their technical competencies, including their human resources, training and logistics management policies. * Support the security forces in improving their control over migratory flows and irregular migration and their fight against associated criminal activity. *Support the country with coordinating regional and international efforts on the fight against terrorism and organised crime.

Concept of Mobile Forces

In the summer of 2022, the Steering Committee (COPIL) for EUCAP Sahel Niger decided to reorient the work of the mission. The focus is now on the mobile forces concept, which envisages doubling the current mobile units of police, gendarmerie and national guard to twelve units in the near future. This concept, in whose realisation EUCAP Sahel Niger plays an important coordinating role for the international partners, is an example of a holistic approach involving all actors on the ground.

History

In response to a request from the Nigerien government, the Mission was established by the Council of the EU in July 2012, initially for a two-year period. The request was prompted by growing concerns over terrorism and organised crime in the region. Colonel Francisco Espinosa Navas was appointed to lead EUCAP Sahel Niger for the first year. The Mission's headquarters was set up in

Niamey Niamey () is the capital and largest city of Niger. Niamey lies on the Niger River, primarily situated on the east bank. Niamey's population was counted as 1,026,848 as of the 2012 census. As of 2017, population projections show the capital dis ...

with two liaison offices in

Bamako Bamako ( bm, ߓߡߊ߬ߞߐ߬ ''Bàmakɔ̌'', ff, 𞤄𞤢𞤥𞤢𞤳𞤮 ''Bamako'') is the capital and largest city of Mali, with a 2009 population of 1,810,366 and an estimated 2022 population of 2.81 million. It is located on the Niger Rive ...

(Mali) and

Nouakchott , image_skyline = Nouakchott.jpg , image_caption = City view of Nouakchott , pushpin_map = Mauritania#Arab world#Africa , pushpin_relief = 1 , mapsize = , map_caption ...

(Mauritania). Whereas the liaison offices in the neighbouring countries were later closed, a field office was opened in the country's northern town of

Agadez Agadez ( Air Tamajeq: ⴰⴶⴰⴷⴰⵣ, ''Agadaz''), formerly spelled Agadès, is the fifth largest city in Niger, with a population of 110,497 based on the 2012 census. The capital of Agadez Region, it lies in the Sahara desert, and is also ...

in 2016.

References

External links

European Union Capacity Building Mission in Nige
{{Common Security and Defence Policy/missions Capacity building missions of the European Union Politics of Niger Political organisations based in Niger