The 21st Spanish contingent in the Central African Republic takes over key positions in the mission

•  The Spanish military, which is now finishing its deployment, has been awarded the European Common Security and Defence Policy Service Medal and the Order of Central African Recognition

The 21st Spanish contingent of the European Union Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM RCA) has taken over at the transfer of authority ceremony held at Camp Moana. Among the tasks they will perform, the most notable are the chiefs of staff, and the areas of planning and operations and intelligence.

Colonel Alberto Serradilla Fidalgo has thus replaced Colonel Rafael Guillermo Muñoz Cervantes as Chief of the European mission. At the transfer of authority ceremony, the outgoing colonel highlighted ‘Spain's important contribution to the mission, as well as the pride of having deployed under the EU flag. Our common goal is to support the CAR Armed Forces and improve their operational capabilities, which contributes to the stability of the area’.

At the handover ceremony, the head of the EUTM mission, General Tamas of Romania, addressed the Spanish military personnel, encouraging them to continue in the same vein as their predecessors, who are now returning to Spain. He highlighted their ‘great professionalism and spirit of service’.

In addition, Spanish military personnel, who are now finishing their mission, were awarded the European Security and Defence Policy Service Medal and the Central African Order of Recognition at the ceremony.

Spain has been involved in EUTM RCA since the beginning of its deployment. It currently contributes five officers, one non-commissioned officer and one soldier.

Spanish participation in the EUTM RCA mission

In 2014, the European Union launched its military advisory mission in the Central African Republic (CAR), which adopted training as its main task in 2016, under the name EUTM CAR.

EUTM RCA is part of the EU's integrated strategy, which, in addition to the military mission, exists another police mission, as well as a diplomatic representation that coordinates the EU's external action.

The mission has now extended its mandate for a further year to actively contribute to the training of officers and non-commissioned officers of the Central African Armed Forces. In this way, European military personnel will enhance the technical skills and leadership of their command staff on the basis of the values and professionalism of the European Union.

The EUTM CAR was launched at the request of the Government of the Central African Republic, within the framework of the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). It is a non-executive mission, whose purpose is to contribute to advising the CAR authorities in the field of security, as well as to support the development of leadership  of the officers and non-commissioned officers of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA).

In this way, it contributes to the reform of the security sector led by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), thereby strengthening the capacity to defend its territory and protect its population. In total, military personnel from nine European Union countries and other collaborating nations make up this mission. Spain is the third largest contributor in terms of the number of troops deployed.