The proposed deployment primarily aims to intensify “training” for anti-terrorism operations, as reported by a newspaper. As part of this, police and soldiers are to be stationed in Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Ivory Coast.
The European Union is evidently planning to launch a so-called civil-military mission in the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa this fall. This was reported by the “Welt am Sonntag” newspaper, citing sources from diplomatic circles.
According to the information, EU countries have agreed to commence the mission immediately after a formal decision by EU foreign ministers at their conference in Luxembourg in October. Drawing on insider sources, the newspaper reports that an as-yet unspecified number of police and soldiers are to be deployed in the countries of Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, and Benin.
The EU wants to combat Islamist terror
According to the report, the EU pursues four main objectives with this deployment: In addition to the general strengthening of security forces, especially in the north of the four countries through consultation and training, there’s also a specific “operational readiness training” for anti-terror operations, technical assistance, and building trust in the security sector.
The reason for this planned mission is the EU’s concern that jihadist groups might shift their activities in West Africa from the Sahel region further towards the southern coastal countries of the Gulf of Guinea, potentially increasing instability in the region. According to “Welt am Sonntag,” the governments of Benin and Ghana have already sent the necessary invitation letters to facilitate the stay of the European mission participants in their countries.
In late 2022, the European Union decided on a military mission in Niger to combat terrorism in the region. The Sahel zone is seen primarily as a hub for Islamist terror. Both the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda factions are active in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. For the EU, the situation in Niger is significant as it’s one of the main transit countries for African migrants on their way to Europe.
Currently, about a hundred German soldiers are in Niger
The European Union has been working with Niger since 2015, mainly aiming to curb the migration route from the Nigerien desert city of Agadez to Libya. For the period from 2021 to 2024, the EU has allocated €503 million in grants for Niger.
Since the military coup on July 26 in Niger, the EU has halted its collaboration with the country. Currently, around 100 German soldiers are stationed in Niger.