An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 17 "We have been here in Mali as part of the EU training mission for five years now. Given the impact the region has on the rest of the world in terms of migration and being a source of terrorism in some cases, in terms of climate change, there will be an Irish presence in Africa for quite a period to come." In response to the reporters asking if the government was con- sidering sending ARW personnel to the United Nations Multidimen- sional Integrated Stabilisation Mission (MINUSMA), Vice Admiral Mellett said: "It is ten years since the ARW deployed overseas in an active mission. Obviously, they provide protection for vital missions like this, but almost on an ad hoc basis." However, he added that this would be entirely a matter for the government to decide. The EUTM Mali mission, which is mandated to improve the capacity of the Malian Armed Forces, is regarded as a challenging mission for security reasons, and although the 18 DF personnel with the mission are not directly engaged in operational roles, their bases in EUTM HQ in Bamako and the Koulikoro Training Camp (in the bush, approx 100km east of Bamako) have come under attack. Taoiseach Varadkar also met with the Malian president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, to discuss the EUTM mission and MINUSMA, which operates in north-west Mali and is deemed by many to be the most dangerous UN mission: since July 2013, 123 MINUSMA peacekeeping and law-enforcement personnel have been killed and 358 seriously injured. The current strength of MINUSMA is 12,647 military, 1,753 police, and 1,180 civilians. From 1st July 2013 to 28th February 2019, a total of 183,769 mili- tary patrols and 72,755 police patrols have been completed in 13 ar- eas: Sector North (Kidal, Tessalit, Aguelhoc), Sector South (Bamako), Sector East (Gao, Menaka, Ansongo) and Sector West (Tombouctou, Ber, Diabaly, Douentza, Goundam, Mopti-Sevare). At the commissioning ceremony for 94 Cadet Class in Dublin Castle in February 2019, An Taoiseach said: "As Taoiseach I've had the privilege of visiting the Defence Forces on mission in Lebanon and Mali and I have seen firsthand their commitment and courage. Our Defence Forces have stood up to violent extremists, freed hostages, rescued nearly 18,000 people in the Mediterranean and tragically they have seen hundreds drown and recovered scores of bodies. The Defence Forces are our first line of defence at home and they bring honour on our country abroad. It is an enormous responsibility…" In June 2019, the Dáil approved sending an ARW Task Unit to MINUSMA along with two staff officers in intelligence and opera- tional roles. The Irish contingent, who will mainly be tasked with conducting long-range patrols, will deploy as part of a German-led ISTAR (intelligence surveillance, target acquisition and reconnais- sance) Task Force, rather than operating in isolation, which means they will benefit from the protections and medical support in place for the larger force. Minister Kehoe spoke to the ARW operatives before they de- parted for Mali towards the middle of September 2019. He said that they were a highly trained specialist force, well equipped to operate in hostile environments such as Mali and told them: "In helping to secure stability in Mali you will be contributing to the security and stability of the wider G5 Sahel region (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger). The region is a source of much criminality, including people trafficking and smuggling. Such criminal activities threaten the security of the entire region and beyond, including the European Union." The ARW peacekeepers are being deployed in a response to an upsurge in violence in north-eastern Mali, led by Al Qaeda-affiliated militant groups. They will be used for long-range reconnaissance patrols and intelligence tasks. This requires speed, mobility, flex- ibility, and the ability to undertake missions that regular infantry soldiers are not trained for. Lt Col Johnny Whittaker, OiC Public Relations, said: "The ARW op- eratives have the capabilities, training and experience to operate in what will be a challenging environment in Mali as part of MINUSMA. They will form part of Ireland's growing support to peace, security and the protection of vulnerable communities across the Sahel." At the same time, other members of the ARW have been tasked to take part in a German-led EU battlegroup, along with 1,500 troops from Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, the Netherlands, Latvia and Sweden. This is the Defence Forces' fourth time to participate in an EU battlegroup, but it is the first time the ARW has been tasked as the DF's main contribution. DF and ARW personnel have deployed to the EU battlegroup in Germany, and further personnel will deploy to Germany to train and exercise with the battlegroup in the coming months, after which they will return to Ireland and remain on standby to deploy with the EU for a six- month period, if required. ARW initial entry force on patrol in a Special Reconnaissance Vehicle (SRV) in EUFOR Chad/CAR in 2008. ARW Sniper team deployed with an Accuracy International .338 rifle and a MOD A3 Steyr rifle with short barrel in Chad, circa 2008.

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