Canada ends Mali mission despite concerns from UN
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan revealed Friday that Canada confirmed the date for its withdrawal without knowing for sure when the Romanian forces would themselves be ready to begin medical evacuation flights.
“I don’t actually have an exact date,” he told reporters. “These are the details that will be worked out by the military leadership.”
Canada deployed three CH-47F Chinook transport helicopters and five CH-146 Griffon helicopters supported by some 250 personnel to Mali last July.
Their primary role was providing medical evacuations for troops serving in what is the UN’s deadliest mission — by the end of February, 195 personnel had been killed since it started in 2013. Over the past year, Canadians have flown 10 medical evacuation flights.
The dates announced Friday means the mission will stretch a little longer than initially planned but it’s not likely the Romanians will be ready to take over by the time the Canadians leave. That will force the UN to make alternate arrangements with civilian contractors to provide evacuation flights.
But officials attached to the UN mission told MPs during their visit to Mali that the civilian option falls short of the capabilities offered by military forces.