One Meter and the Challenges
Szöveg: Col. Attila Král | 2015. május 13. 9:00The activities of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), the French (BARKHANE) COIN operations and the European Union Training Mission Mali (EUTM Mali) are now starting to produce results in Mali. These days the trained battalions of the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa), in close cooperation with the BARKHANE units, have set out to intensively eliminate terrorist and separatist groups. Although the population is surprised by the positive processes creating peace and security, MINUSMA is satisfied with them.
At the weekly commander’s briefings, speaking about the security situation, the commander of EUTM always notes that “It is true that the situation is tense in the northern region of the country. The events are very similar to those of the Middle East theatre, but here, in Bamako or in Koulikoro the situation is not worse than back home in Madrid". However, as a warning, he usually adds that “due to the local health conditions, everybody should keep a distance of one meter in keeping contact to make sure that they get no infection.." By saying this he calls attention to the periodically recurring Ebola outbreaks among others.
Since the start of the mission, the Hungarian Defence Forces have contributed a sniper team within EUTM to the training of FAMa battalions. Posted at EUTM Main Headquarters in Bamako, Col. Attila Král is helping them with the successful execution of the tasks in the theatre. Besides the duties of senior national officer, he serves as liaison officer between MINUSMA and EUTM. Using the lessons learned in Iraq, Afghanistan and Congo, he is responsible for keeping daily contact in this international environment with almost all representatives of the more than 40 nations present. These days the periodic rotation is taking place in the Hungarian–Portuguese sniper team participating in the training of FAMa battalions at the Koulikoro Training Centre. Led by Lt. Ádám Balogh, another four Hungarian troops start their service with two Portuguese soldiers, on the basis of an excellent methodology and cooperation developed by SFC Zsolt Holczer and SFC Gergely Patonai, who have just completed their tour of duty.
Photos by the author
