New Mission Commander for EU training mission in Mali

BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, March 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Brigadier General Marc Rudkiewicz was today appointed new Mission Commander for the EU training mission in Mali (EUTM Mali).

General Rudkiewicz, from France, will take up his duties on 1 April. He will succeed Brigadier General Bruno Guibert, who had been in the position since 1 August 2013.

The EU training mission supports the restructuration and the reorganisation of the Malian Armed Forces though training and advice. It is intended to help improve the military capacity of the Malian Armed Forces in order to allow, under civilian authority, the restoration of the country's territorial integrity. An extension of the mission's mandate beyond May 2014 is currently being prepared.

Today's decision was taken by the EU's Political and Security Committee.