# Canada pulls out, Romania to deploy transport aircraft to Mali

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2019/02/canada-pulls-out-romania-to-deploy-transport-helicopters-to-mali/
- Published: 2019-02-01T18:57:41+01:00
- Author: Sarah Lesedi

Following the [scheduled departure of the Canadian military contingent from Mali](https://www.military.africa/2019/02/canada-pulls-out-romania-to-deploy-transport-helicopters-to-mali/military.africa/2018/12/canada-to-pull-troops-from-mali-in-july-2018)
on July 31, personnel from the Romanian Armed Forces would replace Canada.

The [Canadian Air Task force was deployed to Mali](https://www.military.africa/2019/02/canada-pulls-out-romania-to-deploy-transport-helicopters-to-mali/military.africa/2018/03/canadian-military-plans-to-send-troops-and-helicopters-to-mali)
in support of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in 2018. Romania will supply
transport helicopters to Mali, the government announced.

ADVERTISEMENT

Canada which [currently has six helicopters and 250 support troops based](https://www.military.africa/2019/02/canada-pulls-out-romania-to-deploy-transport-helicopters-to-mali/military.africa/2018/07/first-royal-canadian-air-force-chinook-helicopter-leaves-for-mali)
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 ](https://www.military.africa/2019/02/canada-pulls-out-romania-to-deploy-transport-helicopters-to-mali/military.africa/2018/10/royal-air-force-c-17-globemaster-iii-transport-aircraft-supports-operation-barkhane)
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.

### _Related_