Training Starts for Hungarian Troops to Deploy to Mali

The lieutenant-colonel told MTI that the European Council had approved the plan of the
international training operation on Monday. The Hungarian operational plan has been
prepared in accordance with it, and is ready to receive the governmental endorsement, which
gives the authorization for the Hungarian soldiers’ participation in the ongoing operation in
the West African country.

Lt.-Col. Csabianszki added that they had been in a fortunate position in assembling the
Hungarian military team to be sent to the European Union (EU) training mission in Mali,
because most soldiers of the Hungarian Defence Forces already have operational experience.
Apart from this, every soldier must receive their mission-specific training for their given tasks
before every operation.

Viktor Csabianszki pointed out that the soldiers have to meet the physical requirements in
every moment, so every year they must participate in an assessment of their state of health
and medical screenings. Furthermore, they must also undergo another medical screening and
preparation before each operation. As Mali is a tropical country, the Hungarian soldiers need
to undergo a long immunization procedure, during which they receive vaccinations for the
given region too, he added.

Additionally, they will be introduced to the given conflict from its historical root to the
present day and be given a detailed profile of the target country, including nationality,
statehood, culture, religion and geography, with special emphasis on international law and the
law of armed conflict (LOAC) in particular. As the lieutenant-colonel stressed, all soldiers
must know the legal authority for their activity before setting foot on foreign soil.

Viktor Csabianszki told MTI that the headquarters of the European Union training mission is
located in Bamako, the capital of Mali, but the training itself is scheduled to take place in a
city situated 25-30 kilometers from the capital. The French-led operation will involve almost
the whole of the Union. For example, the Hungarian soldiers are going to work together with
Austrian and German trainers in the field of medicine.

Acting at the request of the President of Mali, France launched a military operation in the
Western African country on January 11 to halt the advance of Islamist militias which are
in control of the northern part of Mali. The objectives of the operation are to defend the
statehood, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Mali, and to prevent the country from
becoming the center of international terrorist groups in the region. The UN Security Council
unanimously supported the military action.

On February 6, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told the commercial radio
Europe 1 that the 4000 French troops deployed in Mali “was the maximum" and their number
“would not be increased". He added that their withdrawal would begin “relatively quickly
in a few weeks". Speaking in a governmental session held on the same day, Head of State

Francois Hollande reaffirmed that the troop withdrawal would begin in March.

Speaking at a press conference last week, Minister of Defence Csaba Hende announced that
Hungary contributes ten trainers to the EU mission in Mali. The mentor team – which is
composed of six snipers, three medical specialists and one liaison officer – may travel to Mali
around March. In relation with this, Viktor Csabianszki noted that once the governmental
decision was made, the Hungarian liaison officer would be sent as soon as possible. The other
members of the team will travel to Mali in March.

Photo: illustration