Polish instructors to begin Mali mission in March

Two men suspected to be Jihadists are arrested in Gao, Mali by Malian troops: photo - EPA/Jose Naranjo

Last week, President Bronislaw Komorowski cleared the operation by signing an agreement at the request of the Malian government.

The Polish instructors will be subordinate to the central command of the EU Training Mission (EUTM) in Mali.

As outlined in a statement released on the Ministry of Defence's web site, the Polish contingent of 20 instructors will have three principal tasks.

Firstly, it will carry out logistical training of Malian troops.

It will also be involved in bomb disposal activities (EOD).

Finally, the contingent will take part in the loading and unloading of air transports.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed on Thursday that the operation, funded by the ministry itself, will cost about 5.8 million zloty (1.5 million euros).

Last December, France became the first to enter the conflict, responding to pleas from the Malian government after northern parts of the country were seized by Islamic insurgents.

France currently has 4000 troops taking part in the counter-insurgency.

The majority of the insurgents have now been forced out of the principal northern towns of Gao and Timbuktu.

Meanwhile, arrests of suspected insurgents by Malian troops are ongoing.

Speaking to Reuters on Thursday, spokesman for the French army Colonel Thierry Burkhard fobbed off suggestions that France has entered what could be a long, drawn-out conflict.

“I don't think we can talk for the moment about getting bogged down,” he said. (nh)