Romania, guarantor of European commitment: the second Romanian general officer has taken over command of EUTM RCA

Romania, guarantor of European commitment: the second Romanian general officer has taken over command of EUTM RCA

On Monday, September 29th, Brigadier General Claudiu Mădălin Tamaș took over the command of the European Union Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM RCA), from Brigadier General Nicolae-Gabriel Oros, during a ceremony held in Bangui.

The activity took place in the presence of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gheorghiță Vlad, and the Director General of the European Union Military Staff, Lieutenant General Michiel van der Laan.

The Chief of Defence Staff thanked Brigadier General Oros for the way he coordinated the contribution of the Romanian Armed Forces' troops and other foreign soldiers to supporting and developing the African state's armed forces and wished Brigadier General Tamaș success in the mandate he had taken over.

"EUTM RCA represents an example of international commitment and cooperation, being one of the two European Union missions commanded by Romanian military personnel. The Romanian Military remains fully involved in the European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy commitments and we will continue to contribute personnel and capabilities, wherever we are needed", General Gheorghiță Vlad highlighted.

As part of this visit, the Chief of Defence Staff awarded the Ambassador of the European Union to the Central African Republic, H.E. Diego Escalona Paturel, the Romanian Armed Forces' Emblem of Honor.

At the same time, General Gheorghiță Vlad had meetings with the President of the Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, with the Chief of Staff of the Central African Armed Forces and Commander of the Autonomous Defence Zone of Bangui, General Zéphirin Mamadou, with the Ambassador of France to the Central African Republic, H.E. Bruno Foucher, as well as with the Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy to the Central African Republic, Melanie Zimmerman.

Established in April 2016, EUTM RCA provides support to the Central African authorities in the fileds of strategic counseling and training to the Central African Republic's security forces.

The Romanian Armed Force has been in charge of the mission since October 2023. The Romanian contingent participates in the training of the soldiers in the host country through strategic-level advisory activities, as well as by planning, organizing and conducting military career and education courses for officers, non-commissioned officers and specialized personnel.

The Press Office