Hungarian Military Mission in Mali Is Extended by Two Years
Szöveg: honvedelem.hu / MTI | 2016. május 21. 9:00The government of Hungary extends by at most two years the mandate of the Hungarian troops’ participation in the European Union Training Mission Mali (EUTM Mali). The relevant government decision was published in Magyar Közlöny (Hungarian Official Gazette) on Wednesday, 18 May.
According to the government decision, the government – in the interest of fulfilling the obligations of Hungary’s membership in the European Union and as a national contribution to the strengthening of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy – authorizes the Hungarian Defence Forces to send 15 soldiers (30 ones in rotation periods) to participate in EUTM Mali “for the period specified in the mandate of the mission", but until 18 May 2018 at the latest.
In March 2012, Islamist rebels occupied the northern region of Mali, and were in control of it until the end of the year. Their goal was to overthrow the central government. A French-led military operation pushed them out of the region, but the armed conflict has not ended, and since then, in alliance with the UN forces, the remaining French troops have been trying to stabilize the country.
