Amarante goes back to Kabul to protect European diplomats

Since 22 November European diplomats have gradually been returning to Afghanistan, following the EU’s pullout in August. Amarante International has also gotten back to business protecting and providing logistical support to EU representatives in Kabul. The company, which is headed by Alexandre Hollander, deployed its first representatives in Kabul on 13 November in order to restore the European delegation to working order while at the same time dislodging the Taliban who had taken up residence in the EU mission.

Moving back

Keen to move back to Afghanistan without making their presence too official, EU member states opted to reopen the EU mission to keep an eye on the Taliban’s moves, to distribute humanitarian aid and also to provide consular services. The team, which initially included a head of security, an administrative chief and the delegation number two – Belgian diplomat Arnout Pauwels – is expected to grow with sucessive air rotations and further funding from EU member states. Amarante is also growing its team in Afghanistan to honour the remaining two years of its contract with the EU, which got underway in 2018. It is working under a joint contract with Canada’s Gardaworld.

Amarante as a forerunner 

Amarante’s team consists principally of local and expatriate staff and will not operate with Gurkhas, who usually work for security groups in Afghanistan. The company is the first Western company to return to Kabul.  Former Singapore police officer Ian Gordon’s firm IDG Security remained in the country but has stayed inside the UN compound since August.