The Russians confirm their participation in the European mission Eufor Chad

(BRUSSELS2) The European military mission in Chad and the Central African Republic (Eufor) could well benefit from Russian reinforcement. Russian President Medvedev signed on 1^er September, the decree confirming the dispatch of a contingent of a maximum of 200 men and 4 helicopters. This decision comes after the approval of the mission by the Federation Council (the upper house of the Russian Parliament), in a closed session on July 25. The helicopters should be of the Mi-8MT type, the most recent version of the Russian helicopter, known for its robustness and its endurance, which can be used indifferently for transport (20 to 30 people) or as an assault helicopter. Most of the personnel are those necessary for the maintenance of the aircraft, the Russians being used to doing all the maintenance on site.

With the 60 Albanians who arrived in mid-July, Eufor Tchad/RCA had – at the last report drawn up this summer – 3250 men (including the 300 Poles already present on the ground). It also had at its disposal a dozen helicopters, necessary for the rainy season: 8 French (4 Puma and 4 Gazelle) based in Abéché and N'Djamena, 3 Polish Mi-17 helicopters in the North battalion (Iriba) and 2 Irish Mi-8 helicopters to the Southern Battalion (Goz Beida).

In addition, the Political and Security Committee (COPS) approved, on September 2, Croatia's participation in the operation, the committee of contributing countries has been modified accordingly. About fifteen Croats should join Chad by October.

These arrivals are welcome after Romania's decision not to send troops, for budgetary reasons.

(NGV)

(published in Europolitics, September 2008)