EUFOR Tchad/RCA

European Union Force Chad/CAR, also EUFOR Tchad/RCA after the French, was the European Union mission in Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR), authorized in late 2007.[1] EUFOR Chad/CAR was authorized under the same United Nations Security Council resolution that mandated MINURCAT, a UN force tasked with training police and improving judicial infrastructure.[2] The European Union Force's mandate included "to take all necessary measures, within its capabilities and its area of operation in eastern Chad and the north-eastern Central African Republic"[3] to protect civilians, facilitate delivery of humanitarian aid, and ensure the safety of UN personnel. The military operation was approved by the Council of the European Union on 15 October 2007. The EU operation commander was Lt. General Patrick Nash of the Irish Defence Forces. The force was announced to be 4,300 troops strong.[4] Out of these, 3,700 troops were deployed in the area of operations, and a strategic reserve of 600 troops was stationed in Europe.[5]

The mission started to deploy in February 2008, reaching its Initial Operational Capability on 15 March 2008.[6] On 15 March 2009, a UN force took over under the MINURCAT mandate.

Contents

Contributors

The Operation Headquarters was located in Mont Velérien, France, in a completely dedicated structure. The Force Headquarters was in N'Djamena and Abéché with forward bases in Goz Beida (South), Farchana (Centre), Iriba (North) and a smaller one in Birao (CAR) (See map). The multinational EU force commander was Irish Lieutenant General Patrick Nash. At its full operational capability, the force was 3,700 strong. France, the largest component of the EUFOR Tchad/RCA, provided a battalion of 2,000 soldiers and 500 support units. Other large contingents were Irish and Polish 450 and 400 strong, respectively. In addition to 14 European Union member states in the field, 19 in theatre and 22 at the operation headquarters (23 in total), three third countries took part in the mission: Albania, Croatia, and Russia.[7]

Neither Germany, nor the United Kingdom engaged with troops, highlighting limited consensus on the mission among the big three member states despite the unanimous adoption and implementation of the Joint Action by the Council of the European Union. Denmark does not participate on the Common Security and Defence Policy and therefore did not take part in planning, financing and implementation of this mission.[8]

Contributors include (with number of troops committed):[5]

Deployment

The mission was dealing with logistical difficulties from the beginning. Originally scheduled to be launched in November 2007, the mission was delayed by the lack of equipment and money and the preparations continued only after the French promised another 500 support units and 10 helicopters.[21] Chad and the CAR are landlocked countries and the area of operation was on their eastern border (some 2400 kilometers from the atlantic coastline of which only 900 km could be bridged by rail). This required the use of harbors and territory of Cameroon and airlifting the rest to N'Djamena as the Abéché airport in the theatre wasn't considered safe.[22] Major technical support, especially the transportation of daily needs of the troops (food, water, etc.), were provided by the permanent French mission to Chad.[23] Deployment wasn't made any easier by limited infrastructure, vastness of the area of operation, inability of the government of Chad to provide basic supplies for the mission and severe climate.[8]

The logistical problems were highlighted by the fact that full operational capability (FOC) couldn't be declared until 15 September 2008, full six months after the declaration of the initial operational capability and half way through the mission. It was originally expected to be achieved by May.[24] The missions also continued to struggle for airlift capabilities, partially settling the matter only in December with deployment of Russian helicopters.[25]

Apart from logistical challenges, the mission also faced problems of its impartiality and distinction from other troops and staff on the ground especially in Chad. There was a concern about sufficiently differentiating the regular French soldiers who serve in Chad under the bilateral defence agreement between the two countries, the MINURCAT personnel and the EUFOR troops (majority of whom where also French). Also, explaining the different roles of those convoys to the local population and briefing of the troops on the complexities of the region was a major task. Rebel groups even threatened to attack any foreign force which they don't see as neutral, a threat clearly directed against dual role of France in Chad. This reiterated fears that the mission might be seen as a protection of the N'djamena regime.[8][21] But president of Chad Idriss Déby also accused EUFOR of collaboration with rebels after the brief outbreak of violence around Goz Beida in June 2008.[26] The accusation arose mostly from the narrowness of the mandate – criticized by both humanitarian workers and Chadian government – which wasn't designed to interfere in internal affairs of Chad (or to significantly improve security and development in the area). Paradoxically, the Déby's critique after the June incidents strengthened the perceived neutrality of the mission.[8]

Casualties

Costs

The operation came slightly under budget at €119.6 million (comparing to planned €120 million but originally envisioned €99,2 million).[28][29] This, however, was only for the common costs of the operation (mostly construction and operation of the camps) financed through the EU mechanism for financing military operations (Athena). The real costs are estimated to be between €400 and €500 million.[8][30]

In addition to this common costs of the EU member states associated with the mission, the EU donated €10 million to MINURCAT to finance its program to train, equip and support the deployment of Chadian police. The 10th European Development Fund also allocated almost €300 million and €137 million to Chad and the CAR, respectively, for the period 2008–2013.[6][7]

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ EU council adopts military action in Chad, Central African Republic - People's Daily Online
  2. ^ a b "CHAD: Dual peacekeeping mission seeks to dispel confusion", IRIN, 11 January 2008
  3. ^ Page 3 of Resolution 1778, accessed 15 November 2007
  4. ^ The Times article on 4,300 troop deployment instead of 3,000, accessed 14 November 2007
  5. ^ a b UN monitoring website HDPT Central African Republic, accessed 14 November 2007
  6. ^ a b "Factsheet for EUFOR Tchad", Consilium Europa, accessed 15 October 2008.
  7. ^ a b Council of the European Union (2009), Council conclusions on operation EUFOR Tchad/RCA, Brussels: European Union, http://www.consilium.europa.eu/App/NewsRoom/loadDocument.aspx?id=339&lang=EN&directory=en/gena/&fileName=106654.pdf, retrieved 2010-04-15 
  8. ^ a b c d e Kuehne, Winrich (2009). How the EU Organizes and Conducts Peace Operations in Africa EUFOR / MINURCAT.. Zentrum für Internationale Friedenseinsätze. http://www.zif-berlin.org/fileadmin/uploads/analyse/dokumente/veroeffentlichungen/EUFOR_Tchad__RCA_final_03_09.pdf. Retrieved 15 April 2010. 
  9. ^ "50 Irish Troops arrive in Chad", RTE News, 21 February 2008
  10. ^ [1], RTE (Irish Radio & Television) News Report 13 February 2008
  11. ^ http://www.pkwczad.wp.mil.pl/pl/index.html "Polska podjęła decyzję o wysłaniu do Czadu ok. 400-osobowego kontyngentu wojskowego(...)"
  12. ^ http://www.pkwczad.wp.mil.pl/pl/10_233.html
  13. ^ "Insatser i världen/Tchad" (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. http://www2.mil.se/sv/Insatser/Tchad/. Retrieved 2008-04-03. 
  14. ^ "Elite-Soldaten auf Tschad-Einsatz vorbereitet" (in German). oe24.at. 22 November 2007. http://www.oe24.at/zeitung/oesterreich/politik/article167541.ece. Retrieved July 28, 2008. 
  15. ^ "El Congreso aprueba el envío de 100 soldados a Chad",El Pais, 29 March 2008.
  16. ^ a b c "Força Aérea em missão no Chade" (in Portuguese). Portuguese Air Force. http://www.emfa.pt/www/detalhe.php?cod=035.078. Retrieved July 28, 2008. 
  17. ^ "Slovenski vojaki že na območju delovanja v Čadu" (in Slovenian). Slovenian Army. http://slovenskavojska.si/dogodki_arhiv/200805/t20080527.htm. Retrieved July 28, 2008. 
  18. ^ "France's Helping Hand in Uruzgan has a Price", ARES Defense Technology Blog, 26 March 2008
  19. ^ "Croatia to participate in EU force in Chad". EUbusiness. 19 May 2008. http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1211207522.16. Retrieved July 28, 2008. 
  20. ^ "Force Strength by Nation", official Consilium Europa site, force strength as of 9 October 2008, accessed 15 October 2008
  21. ^ a b IRIN. 2008. “CHAD: Dual peacekeeping mission seeks to dispel confusion.” IRIN, accessed 7 April 2010.
  22. ^ Seibert, Bjoern H. 2008. “EUFOR Chad/CAR: A Logistical Litmus Test.” Royal United Services Institute, accessed 15 April 2010.
  23. ^ Gros-Verheyde, Nicolas. 2008. “An operation with a complex management structure.” Europolitics, accessed 15 April 2010.
  24. ^ House of Commons. 2008. “European Union military operation in Chad and the Central African Republic.” European Scrutiny - Thirty-Eighth Report, accessed 15 April 2010.
  25. ^ Vogel, Toby. 2008. “The EU's lack of airlift capabilities.” European Voice, accessed 15 April 2010].
  26. ^ France24. 2008. “Chad's Deby accuses EUFOR of helping rebels.” France24, accessed 15 April 2010].
  27. ^ "Sudan Finds Soldier Killed Near Border". The New York Times. 6 March 2008. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/06/world/africa/06chad.html?_r=1&oref=slogin. Retrieved July 28, 2008. 
  28. ^ Watson, Rory. 2008. “Chad peacekeepers get Brussels green light.” The Times (UK), accessed April 11, 2010].
  29. ^ European Union. European Security and Defence Policy. 2009. EU Military Operation in Eastern Chad and North Eastern Central African Republic. Brussels: European Union, accessed 15 April 2010.
  30. ^ European Security and Defense Assembly. 2008. “The European Union mission in Chad: EUFOR Tchad/RCA.” European Security and Defense Assembly, accessed 15 April 2010.

External links