The armed forces have historically interfered in the political life of the country since its independence. All presidents, with the exception of those named for transition governments, were deposed by military coups. It is essential for the consolidation of democracy in the country the submission of the military to the civil power. In this context, domestic and international institutions should strongly support the efforts of the EU Security Sector Reform mission, which has the de-politicization and ethnic balance of the armed forces among its objectives. Although the military have since the presidential election in 2005 adopted an off-politics attitude and contributed for the peaceful and orderly environment of the past electoral cycle, its ethnic composition is still a concern for many political analysts and politicians.