File photo shows rebels in northern Mali.
Tens of British troops are to be deployed to Mali as part of the European Union Training Mission (EUTM) due to start in the spring, Britain’s Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has announced.
Hammond confirmed that the UK will send 40 personnel to purportedly train the Malian army, in a further attempt by Britain to help France’s war on the West African country.
There will be 21 troops from 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment to carry out infantry training, 12 staff to carry out mortar and artillery training, four personnel in the headquarters and 3 civilians in the human rights and gender team.
In addition, the Republic of Ireland is expected to contribute a further six infantry training personnel.
“We welcome the Irish contribution which will help develop further working relations between our two countries,” Hammond said.
Earlier this month, Chief of Defence Staff of British Army General Sir David Richards announced plans by his country to airlift Ghanaian troops to Mali.
On January 11, Paris launched its war on Mali, under the pretext of halting the advance of the fighters who control the northern part of the African country.
Chaos broke out in Mali after President Amadou Toumani Toure was toppled in a military coup on March 22, 2012. The coup leaders said they mounted the coup in response to the government’s inability to contain the Tuareg rebellion in the north of the country, which had been going on for two months.
In the wake of the coup d’état, the Tuareg fighters took control of the entire northern desert region. Later, however, the Ansar Dine fighters pushed them aside and took control of the region.
MOS/SSM/HE
