Spanish Military members face the beginning of the school year at the Central African Armed Forces Non-Commissioned Officers' School

•  The 18th Spanish contingent deployed in Central African Republic (RCA in Spanish) focuses its efforts on the training of the country's Armed Forces command cadres, as well as on the refurbishment of facilities and the reconfiguration of the structure of EUTM RCA

Spanish military personnel deployed in the European Union Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM RCA) face in November the start of the academic year at the Non-Commissioned Officers School of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA in Spanish). The course for officers will begin in January 2025.

This training is highly relevant in the medium and long term, as the training of commanders, based on EU values, alongside appropriate technical training, has an influence on the operational performance of FACA units.

EUTM CAR is a non-executive mission, aimed at providing advice to the authorities of the Central African Republic and leadership development for officers and non-commissioned officers in order to strengthen their capacity to contribute to the defence of their territory and the protection of their population.

Spanish contribution

The 18th Spanish contingent began its deployment in May 2024. Since then, it has been focused on the development of training courses for officers and NCOs, as well as the refurbishment of facilities and reconfiguration of the EUTM RCA structure.

Currently, Spain is contributing seven military personnel from the Spanish Army, with the Spanish Colonel as Chief of Staff. Under his command, he leads a multinational team that is in charge of the Intelligence, Plans and Operations cells.

In this way, the Spanish contingent carries out a large part of the mission's internal coordination work, as well as relations with the higher ranks in Brussels.

Command relief

Also noteworthy was the appointment of Romanian Brigadier General Nicolae-Gabriel Oros as the new Mission Force Commander. The ceremony was held on the parade square at Camp Moana base, the European mission's headquarters, and was presided over by the Director of the European Union's Military Planning and Conduct Capability (DMPCC), Lieutenant General Michiel Van Der Laan, Commander of the EUTM RCA in Brussels.

Under the command of Spanish Colonel Juan Fernando Linares Martinez, Chief of Staff of the EUTM-RCA, all components of the EUTM were assembled: Headquarters, Support Group, Force Protection Detachment, Leadership Development Group, Advisory Group and Command Support Organ.

The event was attended by the main Central African, European and international organisation authorities deployed in the country. Among them were the Central African Prime Minister, Félix Moloua, the Chief of Defence, General Mamadou, the ambassador of the European Union delegation to the Central African Republic, Diego Escalona Paturel, the commander of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA by its Spanish acronym), as well as the heads of MINUSCA units present in Bangui.

Mandate Extension

Since its inception on 19 April 2016, the Mission's mandate has been modified and extended on several occasions. In this regard, on 6 September, the Council of Europe took the decision to extend the mission's third mandate by one year, until 19 September 2025.

This extension involves an update of the mission's goals, such as the initial training of future lieutenants and sergeants at the Officers‘ and Non-Commissioned Officers’ Schools at Camp Kassai, located in the capital Bangui.

Moreover, the operational organisation has been adapted by reducing the on-the-ground structure through the incorporation of mobile advisory and training teams, known as MAT and MTT respectively.

EUTM RCA tasks

The EUTM RCA mission is tasked on providing strategic advice to the country's authorities, as well as contributing to the FACA's ability to develop the leadership of the commanders.

All of this must take place within the framework of the contribution to Defence Sector Reform (DSR) within the Security Sector Reform process coordinated by the Mission of the United Nations Mission for Central Africa (MINUSCA).

To execute these tasks, the mission structure is organised into a Mission Headquarters, a Mission Support Group, an Advisory Group and a Leadership Development Group.