John Brady
Question:82. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the current status regarding Irish troops stationed in Mali; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34175/22]
View answerTuesday, 28 June 2022
Questions (82)
Written answers
In March 2022, the Government approved the continued deployment of up to twenty (20) members of the Permanent Defence Force for service with EUTM Mali up to March 2023. Defence Forces personnel are primarily deployed at Koulikoro and Bamako, but deploy as part of Combined Mobile Advisory Training Teams within Mali.
EUTM Mali is an integral part of the EU’s comprehensive approach to the situation in Mali and Africa’s Sahel region. Ireland has participated in this training mission since its launch in 2013.
In April 2022, EU Foreign Ministers approved the reversible, temporary suspension of the training activities of EUTM Mali to the Malian Armed Forces and Malian National Guard. This followed allegations of violations of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law by armed terrorist groups and Malian Armed Forces accompanied by Russian affiliated forces. As a consequence of this development, a number of troop contributing countries are planning to reduce troop strength in EUTM Mali or withdraw from the mission. Irish Defence Force participation in the EUTM Mali mission is currently under review, both in relation to the strength of our deployment and the safety and security of Irish personnel.
With regard to MINUSMA, Government and Dáil approval was received in June 2019 for the deployment of a contingent of the Permanent Defence Forces to participate in this mission for a two year period. Defence Forces personnel first deployed to MINUSMA in September 2019 as part of a joint deployment with German Armed Forces. The Government subsequently agreed to extend that deployment by one more year through to the end of September 2022.
Irish personnel continue to be deployed with the German Armed Forces at Camp Castor in Gao and at MINUSMA HQ in Bamako, where they carry out assigned tasks in accordance with the mission mandate. The Army Ranger Wing team carry out surveillance and intelligence gathering operations as part of their remit. Irish personnel in Gao are embedded with the larger German Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Company and benefit from the security and force protection effort that is in place to protect the full Company. Defence Forces participation in this mission will conclude in September 2022.
As with all overseas operations, the security situation in Mali is monitored by the Defence Forces on an ongoing basis.