The Force Protection Unit in Mali back in Spanish hands

The Spanish captain relieves the Belgian captain. (Picture: MCANA)

The chief of BRILAT welcomes the soldiers. (Picture: MCANA)

The leadership of the Force Protection Unit deployed in Mali in the framework of the European Union Training Mission (EUTM) in that African country is back in Spanish hands after the transfer of power from Belgian Captain Luc Claeyé to Spanish Captain María Zaira García, which took place on 13 May at Koulikoro.

Captain García heads a company made up of two Spanish sections of fusiliers, whose members are soldiers from the 9th Light Infantry Regiment “Soria”, and two other sections from the Belgian Army, as well as a support section.  

The Unit is responsible for providing security to the teams of European instructors and to the facilities where they live and work.

Back in Spain

Over the last six months those duties were performed by members of the 7th Light Infantry Brigade “Galicia” (BRILAT). They were Spain’s contribution to the Force Protection Unit, then led by Belgium.

The second and last rotation of that contingent, which had around 80 members, was redeployed on 12 May, when their flight landed at the Lavacolla military aerodrome. Another flight with around 20 soldiers on board had arrived on 5 May.

The arrival of the second flight meant the end of the redeployment process for the BRILAT.