Canada will send some of its soldiers to join the rank of the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA). This was announced yesterday March 19, by the Canadian defense minister Harjit Sajjan (photo).  

According to a statement from the official, this deployment which marks Canada’s return in peacekeeping missions in Africa, would be followed by logistical support. Thus, six helicopters will be sent including two for transport and four for combat.

 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated last November that the country would send 200 soldiers to join UN peacekeeping mission in Africa. At the time however, no details were given on the number of Canadian soldiers that will be deployed to Mali. For the record, since the Rwandan genocide in 1994, this is the first time that Canada will deploy troops to Africa. Yet, because of the particularly delicate nature of MINUSMA, the deployment is a great concern for Canadian politicians. Currently, MINUSMA represents the most dangerous UN peacekeeping mission, as more than 150 UN peacekeepers have been killed since 2013.

Moutiou Adjibi Nourou (intern)