EU military training mission will not collaborate with Mali's ex- junta leader: official

Source:Xinhua Published: 2013-2-21 16:43:19

The head of the European Union Training Mission (EUTM), General Francois Lecointre said on Wednesday that there will be no collaboration between the mission and captain Amadou Haya Sanogo, the ex-junta leader who is chairing the military committee to monitor reforms of Mali's security forces.

The European mission aims to contribute to the capacity improvement of the Malian army so that it's able to protect the country's territorial integrity.

While responding to the question of whether he was in contact with Sanogo, Lecointre said that he was in contact with Mali's Chief of General Staff General Ibrahima Dahirou Dembele as well as the Defense Minister Yamoussa Camara.

"These contacts are sufficient for me," Lecointre, a French military officer, said.

Last week, Sanogo was appointed by President Dioncounda Traore to lead a military committee to carry out reforms of the army. The mission of the committee, according to Traore, is "to give Mali a professional and republican army."

Posted in: Europe

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