Chad Deployment
January 11, 2008The deployment aimed at protecting refugees from Sudan's Darfur region, was originally planned to start in November but was delayed by a funding row and a lack of resources.
France had pledged at least 1,350 troops to the force, but on Thursday offered more troops and aircraft to "help end a deadlock in discussions," French defence ministry spokesman Laurent Teissere told a press conference.
"The president of the republic has authorised the defence ministry to put additional means on the table," he said.
France's troop commitment is now expected to grow to about 3,500 soldiers, while other French resources could include logistical support units, helicopters and transport aircraft.
Troops on ground in early February
"We have all the means we need" for the force, which will protect hundreds of thousands of refugees from strife-torn Darfur, an unnamed EU diplomat told reporters after a meeting of EU military experts in Brussels.
"The conclusion is that the EUFOR Chad-CAR operation now has all that is needed to proceed to the next stage, which is for its commander, Irish General Pat Nash, to draw up an operational plan," he said.
Diplomats in Brussels also said that Russia and Ukraine had taken part in the meeting and were examining whether they would provide aircraft for the mission.
They provided no details about the contributions from Belgium and Poland but the Poles were expected to contribute two helicopters.
Belgium had previously announced that it would be prepared to play a role in setting up the mission's headquarters in Chad, but a Belgian military source said it could also send one or two aircraft.
The mission's other largest contributor, Ireland, is also confident that it could also contribute to solving the shortfall in personnel and equipment.
At a military meeting on Friday chaired by Irish commander Lieutenant General Pat Nash , diplomats agreed that the deployment is now viable for a launch in early February.
"EU military experts met and, for the first time, the conclusion is that they have what they need to launch the operation," a diplomat said after the meeting.
The deployment still needs the go-ahead from EU ministers.
Ireland's defence minister Willie O'Dea said on Friday that the first Irish troops will be on the ground in early February.
"While the process has taken longer than anticipated, it has reached a successful conclusion in the end," O'Dea said in a statement.
Irish Rangers waiting in the wings
French troops are already stationed in eastern Chad, and 50 elite soldiers from the Irish Army Ranger Wing are said to be ready to begin long-range patrols.
The force has a UN Security Council mandate and will provide support to some 300 UN police officers sent to monitor camps for Darfur refugees and internally displaced persons.
It is estimated that some 234,000 Darfur refugees, along with 178,000 displaced eastern Chadians and 43,000 Central Africans are housed in camps in the region.