Press release
18 October 2007
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Swedish contribution to UN and EU operation in Chad and Central African Republic
The Government decided today to present a Government Bill on a Swedish military contribution to the EU operation in Chad and Central African Republic. The EU will conduct the operation under a UN mandate.
The Government proposes that Sweden contribute a rifle company of 200 soldiers to the operation which in turn will support the UN presence in the area. The operation will be responsible for the security of refugees and internally displaced persons in the area and also protect UN personnel on site.
"The EU operation will provide support for the UN's crisis management capability, which is one of the most important tasks of the European Security and Defence Policy," says Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt.
"The conflict in Darfur requires a unified approach to the serious humanitarian disaster that characterises the entire region - which is why the EU operation in Chad is important."
The EU military operation in Chad and Central African Republic is called EUFOR Chad/RCA. The operation is expected to last 12 months and the soldiers will be deployed in the area in the beginning of January. The UN civilian mission in the area is called MINURCAT and is tasked with training police officers and monitoring human rights.
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Sara MalmgrenLeave of absence
