EU extends Mali mission with more than 73 million euros

　　China News Agency, Brussels, January 10 (Reporter De Yongjian) When Mali, a strategic location in the Sahel region of West Africa, is facing a humanitarian and security crisis, the European Union announced on the 10th that it will extend the mandate of the EU Sahel Mali Capacity Building Mission. More than 73 million euros will be allocated to the mission.

　　According to the announcement issued by the European Council on the same day, after the current term of EUCAP Sahel Mali (EUCAP Sahel Mali) ends on the 14th of this month, it will be postponed from the 15th until January 31, 2025. The mission will receive more than 73 million euros in funding.

　　The announcement also pointed out that in view of the current political situation and security situation in Mali, the European Union has decided to adjust the tasks of the Mission in Mali. In the future, the mission will assist the Malian authorities to deploy security forces to the southern region, and if necessary, it will also assist the Malian authorities to redeploy security forces to the central region. force.

　　The Sahel region refers to a long and narrow strip of Africa south of the Sahara Desert, across the eight countries of Chad, Mali, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal. It is a French colony, and the European Union is extremely concerned about the local security situation.

　　In January 2015, the EU Sahel Mali Capacity Building Mission was officially launched, with the intention of providing training and strategic advice to the Malian police, gendarmerie, and national guard, and promoting the reform of the Malian security forces; the mission is permanently stationed in Bama, the capital of Mali Section, the current head is a senior French police inspector.

　　In 2020, with the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic and the military mutiny that year, the situation in Mali continued to be tense. Not only did the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance surge, but extremist organizations entrenched in the country were also waiting for opportunities to make trouble. The situation in the northern, southern and central regions was particularly turbulent;12 In mid-June, UN peacekeepers were attacked in northern Mali, killing two and injuring four.

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