The Council of the EU announced, on 23 January, that it had agreed on activating the operations centre for the Horn of Africa. “The operations centre will inter alia provide direct support to the civilian operations commander for the operational planning and conduct of the RMCB (Regional Maritime Capacity Building) mission,” an official statement said. The new operations centre should also “enhance strategic coordination between the mission and other CSDP (Common Security and Defence Policy) actions in the Horn of Africa”. Member states are expected to provide personnel to the centre, including for its leadership.