Despite setbacks from military coups in Mali and Niger, the European Union is planning to launch a new military-civilian mission in Africa in the fall, whose aim is to prevent instability triggered by jihadi groups, a German newspaper has reported. EU member states have agreed to launch the mission in the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, with police and soldiers deployed to Ghana, Togo, Benin and Ivory Coast, German newspaper Die Welt am Sonntag reported on Sunday (27 August), citing diplomats. The mission is to be launched once the EU foreign ministers have made a formal decision to this effect at their meeting in Luxembourg in October. The governments of Benin and Ghana had already sent formal letters of invitation for the EU mission to be deployed on their territories. Militant activity from extremist groups linked to “Islamic State” and al-Qaida have rocked countries such as Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso in recent years.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 28, 2023 11:52 UTC