The Council of the European Union has appointed the German police officer Ms Antje Pittelkau as Head of Mission of the European Union Capacity-Building Mission in Niger (EUCAP Sahel Niger) from 16 January 2021. Ms Pittelkau will be the first female German police officer to head an international police mission.

State Secretary Hans-Georg Engelke commented: "Appointing Antje Pittelkau is a long-overdue step – a signal for Germany and the EU. Germany is proud of and grateful for the dedication of our police officers – men and women – abroad. When it comes to filling international leadership positions, it remains our goal to acknowledge the excellent work of women even more."

Antje Pittelkau has been deputy Head of Mission of EUCAP Sahel Niger since 2018. She joined the Berlin police service in 1987 and has held several leadership functions since. Her last post was head of division at the Senate Department for the Interior and Sport of the federal state of Berlin.

EUCAP Sahel Niger was launched in 2012 and provides advice and training to support the Nigerien security actors (the National Police, the National Guard, the Gendarmerie) in strengthening their capacities to fight organised crime and terrorism. The Mission also makes a major contribution to the training of mobile border protection units.

Currently, Germany has seven federal and state police officers seconded to the Mission and also supports Niger bilaterally through a Federal Police liaison officer who assists with capacity-building of the Nigerien border police.

For further information please visit www.eucap-sahel.eu/en .