Mali and the Sahel: Towards achieving stabilisation of the region

SUMMARY OF:

Decision 2014/219/CFSP on the European Union common security and defence policy mission in Mali (EUCAP Sahel Mali)

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION?

It aims to help restore and maintain order and the conditions for lasting peace in Mali and the Sahel region.

KEY POINTS

G5 Sahel

In 2014, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger set up the G5 Sahel group of countries to foster close cooperation in the region and tackle the major challenges these countries face, including terrorism and transnational organised crime.

EU strategy

In 2021, the European Union (EU) adopted a new integrated strategy in the Sahel that builds upon a previous strategy drawn up in 2011. Although a focus on security cooperation with countries in the region remains, the new strategy seeks to strengthen action at the political level. It emphasises the importance of good governance, human rights, and working with civil society and local authorities.
The EU provided financial support for the creation of the G5 Sahel Joint Force, which includes troops from all five countries and operates in each of them.
The EU is a member of the Sahel Alliance, launched and signed by the EU, Germany and France in July 2017, which aims to provide aid more quickly and more efficiently across the region.
The alliance currently has the following members: Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, the EU, the European Investment Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the African Development Bank and the World Bank.
The alliance also has the following observer members: Ireland, the International Finance Corporation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.

The EU capacity-building mission (EUCAP) in Mali

Decision 2014/219/CFSP provides the legal basis for the EU common security and defence policy civilian mission in Mali (EUCAP Sahel Mali).
Its main purpose is civilian crisis management. It aims to help the Malian authorities:
- to restore and maintain a constitutional and democratic order and the conditions for lasting peace in Mali; and
- to restore and maintain state authority and legitimacy throughout the territory by effective redeployment of its administration.
The mission began in 2015 and, following the most recent extension, amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/96, is due to run until 31 January 2025.
The decision has been amended a number of times to increase financial support to the mission, for the creation of a Regional Advisory and Coordination Cell and to authorise the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to release certain confidential information to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.
Amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/96 gives EUCAP Sahel Mali an additional task: to support the strategic communication efforts to foster EU values, promote EU activities and expose violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law by foreign forces in Mali.
EUCAP Mali is complemented by a military operation, the EU training mission Mali (EUTM Mali), which provides advice on the restructuring of the Malian armed forces. Its mandate runs until May 2024.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DECISION APPLY?

It has applied since 15 January 2015. The validity of the decision is extended until 31 January 2025.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

Civilian mission Mali EUCAP Sahel Mali – factsheet (European External Action Service)
The EU’s partnership with the G5 Sahel countries (European External Action Service).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Council Decision 2014/219/CFSP of 15 April 2014 on the European Union CSDP mission in Mali (EUCAP Sahel Mali) (OJ L 113, 16.4.2014, pp. 21–26).

Successive amendments to Decision 2014/219/CFSP have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.