# Spain deploys additional C-295 aircraft to Dakar

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2020/07/spain-deploys-additional-c-295-aircraft-to-dakar/
- Published: 2020-07-28T09:29:25+01:00
- Author: Ekene Lionel

Spain has deployed an additional C-295 tactical transport aircraft Dakar, Senegal
to bolster the United Nations missions in the Central African Republic (Minusca)
and Mali (Minusma) as well as the French-led [Operation Barkhane](https://www.military.africa/2020/07/spain-deploys-additional-c-295-aircraft-to-dakar/military.africa/2018/06/operation-barkhane-french-war-in-africas-sahel).

ADVERTISEMENT

The C-295 aircraft arrived in Dakar few days after leaving Getafe in Spain on 15
July, it joins another C-295 already in-country since March this year to support
the peace and stability mission currently ongoing in the region.

“For more than six years, two air transport detachments, the Ivory Detachment in
Dakar and the Mamba Detachment in Libreville (Gabon), and a hundred military personnel
from the Air Force, have contributed to the fight against jihadism in the heart 
of Africa and in the Sahel region,” the Spanish Air Force said. “With the aim of
improving efficiency and synergy in operations, the efforts of the two detachments
have been concentrated, since 24 March, in Dakar, from where they will continue 
to perform the same intra-theatre transport functions in support of the aforementioned
missions.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The Mamba Detachment ceased its activity when moving to the Ivory Detachment in
Dakar, after having operated since March 2014. A C295, formerly a Hercules of the
31st Wing, has continuously operated in support of France in the Sangaris operation
in the Republic Central African and the Spanish contingent of EUTMRCA, deployed 
in its capital, Bangui.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The origin of the Ivory Detachment, now with two C295 aircraft, dates back to January
2013, with the initial mission of offering air transport to the Spanish contingent
deployed in Mali and to the Serval operation, which the French Armed Forces were
conducting in Africa. Since then, twenty-nine contingents have been surveyed at 
the Aérienne Senghor base in Dakar, first with the Hercules, from July 2013 to October
2014 with a C295 and then again with a Hercules,” the Spanish Air Force said.

### _Related_