François Bausch on a working visit to Cabo Verde

On 18 and 19 January 2023, the Minister of Defence, François Bausch, made a working visit to Cabo Verde.

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    (fr. l. to r.) François Bausch, Minister of Defence; Nina Garcia, Directorate of Defence; Thomas Barbancey, Embassy in Cabo Verde

    (fr. l. to r.) François Bausch, Minister of Defence; Nina Garcia, Directorate of Defence; Thomas Barbancey, Embassy in Cabo Verde

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    (fr. l. to r.) Colonel Guy Hoffmann, Directorate of Defence; François Bausch, Minister of Defence; Michèle Schmit, Embassy in Cabo Verde; Nina Garcia, Directorate of Defence; Thomas Barbancey, Embassy in Cabo Verde

    (fr. l. to r.) Colonel Guy Hoffmann, Directorate of Defence; François Bausch, Minister of Defence; Michèle Schmit, Embassy in Cabo Verde; Nina Garcia, Directorate of Defence; Thomas Barbancey, Embassy in Cabo Verde

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    (fr. l. to r.) François Bausch, Minister of Defence; Janine Lélis, Minister of State, Defence and Territorial Cohesion

    (fr. l. to r.) François Bausch, Minister of Defence; Janine Lélis, Minister of State, Defence and Territorial Cohesion

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    (fr. l. to r.) Jorge Wahnon, Embassy in Cabo Verde; Janine Lélis, Minister of State, Defence and Territorial Cohesion; n.c.; François Bausch, Minister of Defence; Michèle Schmit, Embassy in Cabo Verde

    (fr. l. to r.) Jorge Wahnon, Embassy in Cabo Verde; Janine Lélis, Minister of State, Defence and Territorial Cohesion; n.c.; François Bausch, Minister of Defence; Michèle Schmit, Embassy in Cabo Verde

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    Working meeting

    Working meeting

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    (fr. l. to r.) Rear Admiral António Monteiro, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces; n.c.; François Bausch, Minister of Defence; n.c.; n.c.; Janine Lélis, Minister of State, Defence and Territorial Cohesion

    (fr. l. to r.) Rear Admiral António Monteiro, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces; n.c.; François Bausch, Minister of Defence; n.c.; n.c.; Janine Lélis, Minister of State, Defence and Territorial Cohesion

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    François Bausch, Minister of Defence

    François Bausch, Minister of Defence

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    François Bausch, Minister of Defence

    François Bausch, Minister of Defence

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    (fr. l. to r.) François Bausch, Minister of Defence; H.E. the President of the Republic of Cabo Verde, José Maria Pereira Neves

    (fr. l. to r.) François Bausch, Minister of Defence; H.E. the President of the Republic of Cabo Verde, José Maria Pereira Neves

On 18 January 2023, François Bausch was received with military honours by his counterpart, the Minister of State, Minister of Defence and Territorial Cohesion, Janine Lélis. During a working meeting at the Government Palace, the two ministers exchanged views on the challenges and means of defence of Cabo Verde, in particular with regard to maritime security and reconnaissance and intervention capabilities, as well as on defence cooperation between Cabo Verde and Luxembourg. After a presentation of Luxembourg's future earth observation satellite LUXEOSys, François Bausch suggested to his counterpart that Luxembourg could make these capabilities available to Cabo Verde in the future. "This capacity could bring added value to the coastguard. It would be a continuation of our joint work to strengthen the Coast Guard of Cabo Verde," said François Bausch, adding: "Luxembourg and Cabo Verde have a historical link and long-standing relations in the fields of development cooperation, diplomacy and defence. Luxembourg Defence is keen to play its part and continue this fruitful cooperation".

Following the bilateral meeting, François Bausch and Janine Lélis visited the Interagency Centre for Maritime Security Operations (COSMAR - centro inter-agências de operações de segurança marítima). In 2018, the Cape Verdean Ministry of Defence and the Luxembourg Directorate of Defence signed the "Bilateral Defence Cooperation Project between Cabo Verde and Luxembourg", in which Luxembourg committed to provide Cabo Verde with €400,000 in funding over the period 2018-2023, of which €100,000 will be used to equip COSMAR. This inter-agency centre now ensures the collection of information based on radar and satellite images, as well as the planning and execution of operations concerning any illegal activity in waters under national jurisdiction, in particular drug trafficking.

François Bausch and the Luxembourg delegation then visited the Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) in Zone G (Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mali and Senegal), a project currently being implemented by the Cape Verdean authorities and supported by a number of partners. Once operational, the MMCC, based in Praia, will provide an information exchange and coordination network as a response mechanism to jointly address insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea region.

François Bausch, in his capacity as Minister for Mobility and Public Works, also had a meeting with the Minister of Tourism and Transport, Carlos Santos, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Regional Integration. The two ministers discussed current transport issues and the good relations that currently exist between the two countries.

On 19 January 2023, François Bausch went to the island of São Vicente to visit the Coast Guard Command. As part of the bilateral defence cooperation project and a trilateral memorandum of understanding between Cabo Verde, Portugal and Luxembourg, the Luxembourg Directorate of Defence has financed, among other things, the training of four sergeants from the Cabo Verde Coast Guard in Portugal. In 2021, the Directorate of Defence has decided to use the remaining €400,000 of the bilateral cooperation project to finance the acquisition of technical and IT equipment to improve the operational efficiency, response capacity and administrative organisation of the Coast Guard. "I believe that this cooperation between Cabo Verde and Luxembourg is a real success", said François Bausch during a press conference after the visit of the Command.

This was followed by a visit to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Mindelo, Sao Vicente, which is responsible for coordinating all search and rescue operations, both maritime and aerial, in the region under the responsibility of Cabo Verde.

At the port of Porto Grande in São Vicente, François Bausch visited the coastguard patrol boat Guardião. Luxembourg has decided to finance technical assistance for the maintenance of the vessel. The implementation of this project is scheduled to take place in the year 2023.

At the invitation of the Minister of State, Minister of Defence and Territorial Cohesion, Janine Lélis, François Bausch attended a bilateral lunch in the presence of the Prime Minister, Ulisses Correia e Silva, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Regional Integration, Rui Figueiredo Soares.

Back in Praia, François Bausch was received in audience by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Cabo Verde, José Maria Pereira Neves. The latter thanked François Bausch for the good bilateral cooperation in the field of defence, in particular with regard to maritime capacity building. François Bausch and the President of Cabo Verde also exchanged views on the security situation in the Sahel.

In the evening, to conclude the second day and the working visit, Minister of Defence François Bausch attended a dinner hosted by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Entrepreneurship and Digital Economy, Olavo Correia.

Press release by the Directorate of Defence

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