A Spanish Colonel Will Be the Second Chief of the EU Mission in Mali

Spanish Translation of the Week

A senior officer from the Spanish army, likely a colonel, will become the second chief of the European Union Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali), as was announced this morning in Congress by Defense Minister Pedro Morenés. Morenés appeared before the Defense Committee to request the authorization necessary to double the Spanish presence in the Sub-Saharan country, effectively increasing its forces from 56 to 110.

"Un "oficial superior" del Ejército de Tierra español, con toda probabilidad un coronel, será el segundo jefe de la misión de la Unión Europea en Malí (EUTM Malí), según ha revelado esta mañana en el Congreso el ministro de Defensa, Pedro Morenés. Morenés ha comparecido ante la Comisión de Defensa para pedir la preceptiva autorización para duplicar el contingente español en el país subsahariano, que pasará de 56 a 110 efectivos."

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The request was approved with 26 votes in favor and 2 against from the IU and the ERC. With this increase, Spain will become the second-largest contributor (after France) to the mission, which consists of 518 troops from 22 European countries. EUTM Mali Command, with its headquarters in Bamako, is led by a French general with an Italian colonel in the number two position, who will soon be replaced by a Spaniard.

The minister has estimated the cost of Spanish participation to be €9 million for the rest of this year, not including another €29.8 million for a C-295 transport plane (a C-130 Hercules was used until May 28) currently deployed in Dakar, Senegal with 50 troops to support the French Operation Serval which, independently of the EU, has ousted the jihadist militias in the northern regions of the country. This brings the total to €38.8 million.

Morenés justified increasing the size of the mission in Mali, which has been supported by most opposition groups, by pointing to the "French downsizing" in the second half of this year. EUTM Mali's principal mission is training the Malian Army to be able to control its own territory. It has formed a Malian battalion of 710 troops, of which 35 are part of a special operations group trained by Spanish troops.

The new Spanish contingent, which will be deployed between July and September, will include two sections of the company currently protecting the EU training camp at Koulikoro, 60km from Bamako, who will arrive between July and December. Two Belgian sections will replace themS Special Forces member inspects weapons in Mali in 2007 (file photo).

S Special Forces member inspects weapons in Mali in 2007 (file photo).