European Union Training Mission in Mali

See also: Operation Serval and African-led International Support Mission to Mali

European Union Training Mission Mali
Commanded bySpain Brig. Gen. Santiago Fernandez Ortiz-Repiso
Date17 January 2013 – 17 May 2024
Executed by Austria
 Belgium
 Bulgaria
 Czech Republic
 Estonia
 Finland
 France
 Georgia
 Germany
 Greece
 Hungary
 Ireland
 Italy
 Latvia
 Lithuania
 Luxembourg
 Moldova
 Montenegro
 Netherlands
 Portugal
 Romania
 Serbia
 Slovakia
 Slovenia
 Spain
 Sweden

EUTM Mali (European Union Training Mission in Mali) was a European Union multinational military training mission headquartered in Bamako, Mali.

22 EU member states (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden) along with 4 non-EU countries (Serbia, Georgia, Moldova, and Montenegro) were engaged in this mission and sent soldiers to the Republic of Mali.

EUTM Mali ended on 17 May 2024, with the participating forces redeploying to Europe the following day.[1]

Mandates

Beginning in 2013, the Council adopted several decisions. According to these documents, EUTM Mali evolved towards its final nature. The most relevant ones were:

  • Council Decision 2013/34/CFSP:[2] EUTM Mali creation
  • Council Decision 2013/87/CFSP:[3] EUTM Mali mission launching
  • Council Decision 2014/220/CFSP:[4] 2nd mandate. EUTM Mali extension until 18 May 2016.
  • Council Decision 2016/446/CFSP:[5] 3rd mandate. EUTM Mali extension until 18 May 2018.
  • Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/716:[6] 4th mandate. EUTM Mali extension until 18 May 2020.
  • Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/434:[7] 5th and last mandate.[1] EUTM Mali extension until 18 May 2024.

Relationships

EUTM Mali had links with EUCAP Sahel Mali, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali and Operation Barkhane in the north of Mali, with which EUTM shared the same goal, to help Mali to free the north of its territory. Notwithstanding, EUTM Mali's mission was a mission of training and advice. After France, Germany, Belgium (in 2016), Czech Republic became in 2020 the leading nation of this mission.[citation needed]

EU Mission Force Commander of EUTM Mali

Country Rank Name From Until
 France Brigadier General François Lecointre Jan. 2013 Aug. 2013
 France Brigadier General Bruno Guibert Aug. 2013 Mar. 2014
 France Brigadier General Marc André Rudkiewicz Mar. 2014 Oct. 2014
 Spain Brigadier General Alfonso García-Vaquero Pradal Oct. 2014 July 2015
 Germany Brigadier General Franz Xaver Pfrengle July 2015 Dec. 2015
 Germany Brigadier General Werner Albl[8] Dec. 2015 Jul. 2016
 Belgium Brigadier General Eric Harvent[9] July 2016 Dec. 2016
 Belgium Brigadier General Peter Devogelaere[10] Dec. 2016 July 2017
 Belgium Brigadier General Bart Laurent[11] July 2017 Jan. 2018
 Spain Brigadier General Enrique Millán Martínez Jan. 2018 Nov. 2018
 Germany Brigadier General Peter Mirow Nov. 2018 June 2019
 Austria Brigadier General Christian Habersatter[12] June 2019 Dec. 2019
 Portugal Brigadier General João Pedro Rato Boga de Oliveira Ribeiro[12] Dec. 2019 June 2020
 Czech Republic Brigadier General František Ridzák Jun. 2020 Jan. 2021
 Spain Brigadier General Fernando Luis Gracia Herreiz Jan. 2021 July 2021
 Germany Brigadier General Jochen Deuer July 2021 Jan. 2022
 Austria Brigadier General Christian Riener[13] Jan. 2022 June 2022
 Czech Republic Brigadier General Radek Hasala[14] June 2022 Dec. 2022
 Spain Brigadier General Santiago Fernandez Ortiz-Repiso[15][16] Dec. 2022 May 2024

References

  1. ^ a b "End of mandate EUTM Mali" (Press release). European External Action Service. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  2. ^ Council Decision 2013/34/CFSP of 17 January 2013 on a European Union military mission to contribute to the training of the Malian Armed Forces (EUTM Mali), 18 January 2013, retrieved 25 January 2019.
  3. ^ Council Decision 2013/87/CFSP of 18 February 2013 on the launch of a European Union military mission to contribute to the training of the Malian Armed Forces (EUTM Mali), 19 February 2013, retrieved 25 January 2019.
  4. ^ Council Decision 2014/220/CFSP of 15 April 2014 amending Decision 2013/34/CFSP on a European Union military mission to contribute to the training of the Malian Armed Forces (EUTM Mali), 16 April 2014, retrieved 25 January 2019.
  5. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/446 of 23 March 2016 amending and extending Council Decision 2013/34/CFSP on a European Union military mission to contribute to the training of the Malian Armed Forces (EUTM Mali), 24 March 2016, retrieved 25 January 2019.
  6. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/716 of 14 May 2018 amending and extending Decision 2013/34/CFSP on a European Union military mission to contribute to the training of the Malian Armed Forces (EUTM Mali), 16 May 2018, retrieved 25 January 2019.
  7. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/434 of 23 March 2020 amending Decision 2013/34/CFSP on a European Union military mission to contribute to the training of the Malian Armed Forces (EUTM Mali), 24 March 2020, retrieved 18 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Nächster deutscher General führt EUTM Mali" (in German). 3 January 2016. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  9. ^ "EUTM Mali: Wechsel an der Spitze der Trainingsmission". Aktuelle Einsätze (in German). Bundeswehr – PAO HQ EUTM MLI. 4 July 2016. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Changement de commandement à l'EUTM Mali – EUTM Mali". EUTM Mali. 19 December 2016. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  11. ^ "On 12 July, the Belgian Brigadier General Bart Laurent new head of mission EUTM MALI". 13 July 2017. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  12. ^ a b Council of the European Union, 13880/19, 25 November 2019. POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE DECISION on the appointment of the EU Mission Force Commander of the European Union military mission to contribute to the training of the Malian Armed Forces (EUTM Mali) and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2019/948 (EUTM Mali/2/2019)
  13. ^ "Österreich übernimmt die Trainingsmission in Mali".
  14. ^ Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP) 2022/657 of 12 April 2022 on the appointment of the EU Mission Force Commander of the European Union military mission to contribute to the training of the Malian Armed Forces (EUTM Mali), and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2021/2209 (EUTM Mali/1/2022), 21 April 2022, retrieved 26 June 2024
  15. ^ "SPANISH GENERAL ORTIZ-REPISO TAKES OVER THE COMMAND OF EUTM MALI". 16 December 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  16. ^ "La ministra de Defensa recibe a los últimos militares del contingente de la UE en Malí" [The Minister of Defense receives the last soldiers of the EU contingent in Mali] (Press release) (in European Spanish). Madrid: Ministerio de Defensa. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024. Por su parte, el último jefe de la misión, el general español Santiago Fernández Ortiz-Repiso... [For his part, the last head of the mission, Spanish General Santiago Fernández Ortiz-Repiso...]