Mission in support of Security Sector Reform in Guinea-Bissau

Under the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), the European Union is supporting Guinea-Bissau in their security sector reform (SSR) and is thus contributing to the promotion of peace and stability in Africa.

ACT

Council Joint Action 2008/112/CFSP of 12 February 2008 on the European Union mission in support of security sector reform in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (EU SSR GUINEA-BISSAU).

SUMMARY

The Council of the European Union has created a mission called “EU SSR Guinea-Bissau”, the aim of which is to support the authorities of this country under the framework of the security sector reform (SSR).

In particular, the aims of the mission are:

• to operationalise the National SSR Strategy as laid down by the Guinea-Bissau Government, which plans to downsize and restructure the Armed Forces and security forces;
• to assist with the development and capacity building of the Armed Forces and security forces, including training and equipment.

More specifically, the mission will undertake the following actions:

• contribute to the plans for downsizing and restructuring of the Armed Forces and security forces;
• provide advice on capacity building in terms of criminal investigation;
• organise training for the Judicial Police;
• provide advice to the Interpol Office in Guinea-Bissau.

Structure of the Mission

The mission is based in the capital Bissau and comprises:

• a Head of Mission and his Deputy Head of Mission, supported by a Mission Support Cell and a Political Adviser, responsible for public and press relations;
• advisors assigned to work with Guinea-Bissau’s Army, Navy and Air Force;
• advisors assigned to work with the Judicial Police, the Prosecution Services and the Public Order Police, as well as the National Interpol Office in Guinea-Bissau;
• an advisor to the Secretariat of the Committee for Technical Coordination (CTC).

The Political and Security Committee (PSC) shall exercise the political control and strategic direction of the mission under the responsibility of the Council. The Head of Mission, appointed by the PSC, shall exercise command and control of the mission in the country. The Head of Mission shall report to the Commission regarding the activities undertaken in the framework of his contract.

The Head of Mission shall act in close coordination with the Commission delegation in Guinea-Bissau, the local EU Presidency and the other EU Heads of Missions. Similarly, he shall cooperate with the other international actors present in the country, in particular the United Nations, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and with the International Contact Group on Guinea-Bissau.

The mission was officially launched on 16 June 2008 for an initial maximum period of twelve months. It has been allocated an initial budget of €5.65 million.

Context

In November 2006 the Guinea-Bissau Government presented a National Security Strategy aimed at reforming a sector judged essential for the stability of the country. This was followed in September 2007 by an Action Plan for the Restructuring and Modernisation of the Security and Defence Sectors and an Emergency Plan to Fight Drug Trafficking.

In May 2007 the General Secretariat of the Council and the European Commission carried out a joint information-gathering mission in cooperation with the country's authorities with a view to identifying how the European Union could contribute to the plan.

On 19 November 2007 the Council considered that it would be useful to undertake a European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) action in the field of security sector reform in Guinea-Bissau. The EU SSR Guinea-Bissau mission is in line with the Africa-EU strategic partnership adopted at the Lisbon Summit on 8 and 9 December 2007.

RELATED ACTS

Council Decision 2008/669/CFSP of 16 June 2008 concerning the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau on the Status of the European Union Mission in Support of Security Sector Reform in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau [Official Journal L 219 of 14.8.2008].

See also

For further information, please consult the Council website dedicated to the EU mission in Guinea-Bissau.

Last updated: 04.09.2008