The Congolese government has made available its Ilyushin Il76 (MSN 1033415504 | TN-AFS) transport to the Chadian government following the latter's decision to deploy 2000 troops to join the growing international operation (Mission Internationale de soutien au Mali - MISMA) against Islamist insurgents in northern Mali. |
| Chadian troops shipping out (PresidenceTchad) |
The announcement was made today via the press office of the Chadian president, Idriss Déby, following a meeting with his cabinet. This afternoon, the first C130 Hercules with a battalion of Chadian special armed forces and equipment, took off for Bamako.
"Africa cannot remain indifferent to what is happening in Mali. It should support France,"said President Déby. That is why yesterday he informed the Head of Government, the presidents of major institutions, the presidents of all parliamentary groups represented in the National Assembly of his decision to send 2,000 troops to the international forces on Malian soil.
Source [La Présidence de la République du Tchad ]
Additional logistical support is to come from a Chadian air force Antonov An24 and the recently acquired Boeing 737-300 (4L-IMA) of Toumaï Air Tchad (9D).
Niger, Burkina Faso, Togo, Senegal, Guinea and Ghana have also promised troops with Nigeria committing 900 troops to a UN-approved, 3300-strong
multinational African intervention force in Mali, which it will
command.