The European Council has extended the mandate of the EU military training mission EUTM in Somalia until December 2020. The council further approved a budget €22.9 million for the period 1 January 2019 until 31 December 2020.
The Council also slightly adapted the mission’s existing mandate of providing political and strategic level military advice to the Somali authorities. The mission will continue to contribute to the development Somali National Army (SNA)’s own training capacity with a view to handing over training activities for tactical units once conditions are met.
EUTM Somalia was launched in December 2010 to provide political and strategic level military advice and mentoring to Somali defense institutions. The mission focuses on specific mentoring, advice, tailored training and capacity-building in order to contribute to the development of the Somali National Army, with the focus on delivering effective and sustainable security in the country.
EUTM Somalia has been based in Mogadishu since 2014. It has a team of more than 200 staff and is led on the ground by Brigadier General Matteo Spreafico (Italy).
