Ivory Coast sends troops to Mali

Ivory Coast is sending for the first time a combat unit of 150 soldiers to Mali to join UN peacekeepers.

According to Ivorian Chief of Staff General Toure Sekou, the combat unit is going to reinforce peace in Mali’s Northern region that is beset by unrest and Islamist attacks.

“There are two aspects in the fight against terrorism. As we all know, a single country can not fight terror on its own. It can only be done together, hand in hand. As I said in my speech it will take subregional and continental collaboration to fight terror,” said the general.

The West African nation which has emerged from a decade of internal political crisis, aims to play a major diplomatic role, equal to its economic weight in the region.

In addition, the general was reassuring about the level of his troops after mutinies in the beginning of the year shook the country.

Touré said, “We think as soldiers that all operations carry risks. Perhaps the risks may vary from one place to another, but we think as soldiers that our men are well and also well equipped.”

Delays in implementing the UN brokered peace deal led to the strengthening of Jihadists. This is despite French forces driving the militants from major urban centres in 2013.

AFP