Seventh Nigerien military contingent to be deployed in Mali
Niamey, Niger (PANA) - A military contingent of 850 men and women of the Nigerien Defence and Security forces will be shortly deployed in Mali to serve on the UN multidimensional integrated mission for Mali stabilization (MINUSMA), official sources said here Monday.
The contingent, the 7th of its kind, has just ended in Ouallam, 100 km northwest Niamey, a ten-week intensive training on the peacekeeping operations, in accordance with the demands of the United Nations (UN).
The ceremony marking the end of that training was held last weekend at the military camp of Ouallam under the supervision of the Nigerien minister of Defence, Kalla Moutari.
The US ambassador in Niger, Eric Whitaker, as well as the deputy Army chief of staff and other senior officers of the Defence and security forces attended the ceremony.
Niger has engaged since 2013 helped Mali to reclaim its territorial integrity, especially in its northern part which fell under the control of terrorist groups following the collapse of the state in Libya.
The training of the continent was carried out by a coalition of trainers from the Nigerien armed forces and other nationals.
The trainers, who were 28 in number, included 19 Americans.
Among the institutions that helped the Nigerien army in their training was a branch of the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI), the UN Mines Action Service (UNMAS), which conducted a specific training programme against explosive engines.
According to the minister of Defence, Niger’s partners, in addition to the training, made available to the Nigerien defence and security forces large quantities of different materials required for the use of that battalion in Mali.
Moutari praised the exemplary role of the Americans for their cooperation with Niger, while reaffirming the country’s gratitude for their contributions to the seventh MINUSMA Nigerien contingent.
Speaking to the soldiers of the contingent, the Nigerien minister of defence said they were from now on ready to fulfill their mission within MINUSMA.
“Still keep in mind that you are our ambassadors all along your stay in Mali. In that respect, you should show professionalism, integrity, abnegation and everlasting discipline. In a word, you should always be exemplary.”
The US ambassador in Niger, Eric Whitaker, praised the courage of the Nigerien army, saying it is ‘’one of the most reliable institutions in the country”.
"Strong institutions like it are extremely important to strengthen democracy. One never misses to speak about the importance of Niger’s continued participation within the UN mission in this decisive period of the democratic process in Mali,” he stated.
“Also, it is important to note that this battalion will play a role of security, vital for the next parliamentary elections and will be at the forefront of the fight of the region against violent extremisms and the lasting instability in Mali. Your presence gives the Malian people hope that its neighbors and the international community have not forgotten it at this time when it really needs it.”
-0- PANA SA/IS/MSA/RA 19Aug2019
