The Diplomat
The Council of the European Union has extended by four months, until 30 June, the mandate of Spanish diplomat Ángel Losada as EU Special Representative (EUSR) for the Sahel, although it has left open the possibility that it may end before that date.
Ángel Losada was appointed on 1 November 2015 and his mandate has been extended twice, until 25 June 2018 and, just a year ago, until 28 February 2021. In view of the imminent end of the mandate, the EU Council approved on 22 February a new extension until 30 June, but including a clause stating that the Council itself “may decide that the mandate of the EUSR be terminated earlier”, based on an assessment by the Political and Security Committee (PSC, the body responsible for the EU’s foreign, security and defence policy) and on a proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. “The final comprehensive mandate implementation report of the EUSR shall be presented by 30 April 2021”, it added.
Since taking office, Angel Losada’s mission has been to support the work of the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy in leading regional and international efforts for the establishment of peace, security and development in the Sahel. He has also been responsible for coordinating the European Union’s comprehensive approach to the regional crisis, based on the EU strategy for security and development in the Sahel, an area in which Spain has a special interest given its geographical proximity.
Ángel Losada has extensive experience as a diplomat and has been, among other things, Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria and Kuwait, as well as Ambassador-at-Large in the Command Structure of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF).
