ZIF Visit to EUCAP Sahel Mali: On-Site Exchange with Seconded Personnel and Leadership
The Deputy Director of ZIF, Dr. Katja Niethammer, and the Head of the Security Team, Matthias Bischoff, are currently visiting the EU mission EUCAP Sahel Mali. The visit focuses on exchanges with the German seconded personnel deployed on site and the mission leadership, as well as gaining direct insights into the operational work on the ground.
A central priority of the multi-day program is fulfilling the employer’s duty of care towards German experts. Germany holds key leadership positions in the civilian CSDP mission in Mali (Common Security and Defence Policy of the EU). As an employer, it is essential for us to see how our seconded personnel live and work on site.
In this context, exchanges are particularly close with our seconded staff members Philipp Schweers, Chief of Staff of the mission, and Carmen Meinhold, Head of the Press and Public Information Office. In addition to discussions on the security situation and working conditions, the agenda includes direct exchanges with the logistics and operations units as well as mission leadership.
Insights into Mission Work and Cooperation with Partners
The visit program provides the ZIF delegation with comprehensive insights into operational practice and mission projects. The delegation is visiting various project sites and training facilities in Bamako. These include insights into training measures in crisis management and police technology, as well as visits to mission infrastructure projects.
The program is complemented by meetings at the German Embassy in Bamako to further deepen coordination between civilian actors on the ground and national authorities. The insights and field reports gathered from the country of deployment form an essential basis for broadening the foreign policy perspective on the Sahel region and deriving targeted recommendations for German engagement in the region.
Strengthening European Peace and Security Policy
Germany's engagement with EUCAP Sahel Mali underscores the importance of an effective European foreign and security policy. Germany contributes on multiple levels: in addition to providing qualified personnel, the focus is on the targeted preparation and further training of Malian partners.
The information and feedback collected during this official trip will feed directly into the future preparation and support of seconded personnel, as well as into our policy advice.
Tasks and Priorities of EUCAP Sahel Mali
EUCAP Sahel Mali has been supporting the reform of the Malian security sector since 2015. The mission's mandate encompasses strategic advice, training, and infrastructure support for the country's internal security forces—including the police, gendarmerie, and civil protection—as well as the Ministry of Justice. Particular focus is also placed on upholding human rights, preventing corruption, and strengthening the rule of law.