28 January 2008 – the EU has decided to launch a military operation in Eastern Chad and North Eastern Central African Republic (EUFOR TCHAD/RCA) in accordance with UN resolution 1778 (2007) of 25 September 2007.

This resolution approved the establishment of a UN Mission in Chad and the Central African Republic (MINURCAT) and authorised the EU to deploy forces in these countries for a period of 12 months from the declaration of Initial Operating Capability.

In deciding to conduct this operation the EU is stepping up its longstanding action in support of efforts to tackle the crisis in Darfur as part of a regional approach to that crisis.

EUFOR TCHAD/RCA is a bridging operation which will closely coordinate with the multi-dimensional United Nations presence in the East of Chad and in the North-East of the CAR in order to improve security in those regions. More specifically, the EU operation has the following objectives:

• To contribute to protecting civilians in danger, particularly refugees and displaced persons;
• To facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and the free movement of humanitarian personnel by helping to improve security in the area of operations;
• To contribute to protecting UN personnel, facilities, installations and equipment and to ensuring the security and freedom of movement of its staff and UN and associated personnel.

For more information, see consilium.europa.eu/cms3_fo/showPage.asp