Czech Republic plans to send military instructors Mali to join French Army operation Serval 0602131

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Defence News - Czech REpublic
 
 
Wednesday, February 6, 2013, 08:32 AM
 
Czech Republic plans to send military instructors to Mali to join French Army operation Serval.
The Czech Republic plans to send combat instructors to Mali to join a military operation against Islamist militants in the north of the country, Czech radio reported citing the foreign minister said. According to Czech Foreign Minister and First Deputy Prime Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, the participation of the Czech Republic in the anti-Islamist operation, would prove that his country “is a reliable ally that can help the army of Mali.”
     
The Czech Republic plans to send combat instructors to Mali to join a military operation against Islamist militants in the north of the country, Czech radio reported citing the foreign minister said. According to Czech Foreign Minister and First Deputy Prime Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, the participation of the Czech Republic in the anti-Islamist operation, would prove that his country “is a reliable ally that can help the army of Mali.”
More than 2,000 Chadian soldiers are deployed in Mali.
     
“This proposal must be endorsed at a session of the Czech cabinet of ministers and then voted upon in the parliament,” Schwarzenberg said.

The West African nation of Mali has been in crisis since its Soviet-trained president Amadou Toumani Touré was ousted in a coup in March 2012, and a coalition of Islamist groups seized the north of the country.

The 15-member UN Security Council unanimously voted in December to give the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) an initial one-year mandate.

African contingents reached the number of 3,800 soldiers including 1,800 Chadians, 500 Nigeriens, 640 Togolese, 240 Nigerians, 500 Burkinabe,100 Beninese and 50 Senegalese.

A week ago the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) agreed to send additional troops to the country.

France deployed its own military contingent on January 10 to aid Mali’s government, whose army had been retreating before the attack of armed groups with ties to al-Qaeda. The French contingent on the ground now totals 4,000 troops.