Following the scheduled departure of the Canadian military contingent from Mali on July 31, personnel from the Romanian Armed Forces would replace Canada.
The Canadian Air Task force was deployed to Mali in support of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in 2018. Romania will supply transport helicopters to Mali, the government announced.
Canada which currently has six helicopters and 250 support troops based near the northern Mali city of Gao. Three CH-147F Chinook heavy lift transport helicopter from the RCAF 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (THS) and up to seven CH-146 Griffon tactical transport helicopter from the 508 THS which were pledged to the UN mission.
“Canada welcomes the commitment of Romania, a credible and capable troop-contributing ally, to replace our Canadian air task force,”
Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement.
Similarly, The Royal Air Force has dispatched a C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft to Gao, Mali in support of the French Operation Barkhane counter-insurgency mission. The C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft flight was to deliver supplies to the Royal Air Force (RAF) Chinook Detachment currently deployed supporting French operations in the war-torn country.