The outgoing commander of the European Union Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM CAR), Brigadier General Paulo Neves de Abreu, handed over the reins of the organization to his successor on 11 September 2021, at a ceremony held in Bangui.
The event was graced by several dignitaries, including Head of State Faustin Archange Touadera, Portugal’s Defence Minister João Gomes Cravinho, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mankeur Ndiaye, the new Head of Delegation of the European Union to Central African Republic, Ambassador Douglas Carpenter, as well as members of the diplomatic corps in the Central African Republic.
A key partner
The EUTM Mission – an important MINUSCA ally – is primarily charged with providing training and advice to the Central African Armed Forces.
In his farewell speech, General Neves de Abreu saluted the “fundamental” support of EUTM’s national and international partners, including MINUSCA, the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States.
He hailed the soldiers who have worked alongside him over the past year: “I thank the almost 650 men and women from 14 countries who have served under my command and contributed to efforts to reconstruct this country. They are testimony to the EUTM’s commitment as a reliable CAR partner.”
Passing the baton
The ceremony marked the handover of EUTM CAR leadership from Portugal to France.
French national and incoming commander General Jacques Langlade de Montgros said he relished the task ahead – contributing to the development of the military capacity of the CAR and training the country’s future military leaders. “It’s a great joy to be back with the Central African people whom I’ve come to know on my previous visits to this country, an honour to be involved in the training of the CAR Armed Forces and I’m proud to command this mission.”
“I’m ready to meet the challenges ahead with determination; I know that patience and perseverance will be required to obtain the desired results,” he added.
Strong Portugal-MINUSCA cooperation
In a meeting with the Portuguese Defence Minister João Cardona Gomes Cravinho, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mankeur Ndiaye lauded Portugal’s contribution to MINUSCA, notably through the Portuguese Quick Reaction Force which has conducted major operations on the ground to contain armed groups in various parts of the country.
He described the Portuguese peacekeepers as “efficient, professional and resilient” and praised their efforts on the frontlines of the December 2020 security crisis during the CAR presidential elections, in places such as Bossembele (southwestern CAR) where they helped ensure security “through the implementation of the Integrated Security Plan for the Elections”.
The head of MINUSCA expressed confidence that the partnership between MINUSCA and EUTM CAR on Security Sector Reform in the CAR – with the former helping to improve the capacity of the Internal Security Forces and the latter working to strengthen the Central African Armed Forces – would continue to bear fruit.