From Bagotville to Gao

The Airfield Activation team left Bagotville in June and arrived at the Gao base in Mali to take part in Operation PRESENCE.

Once arrived, this team prepared to set up the Canadian air installations required to receive the contingency of Operation PRESENCE- Mali - the name given to the Canadian operation in support of the efforts of the United Nations Multidimension al Integrated Mission. United Nations Multidimention alInt egrated Stabilization Mission in Ma li ( MINUSMA).

This team will also have to organize the transition of the facilities with the German air contingent currently serving to carry out the mission's airborne evacuations.

LCol Michel Cécyre, commander of the Mission Support Squadron, formerly known as 2 Air Expeditionary Squadron since early June, stated "I am already impressed by the professionalism of my members and their ability to react and adapt quickly to unforeseen events to complete the various stages of the mission within the required time. "

In March 2018, Canada announced its intention to deploy a Task Force in support of MINUSMA following a request from the UN.