The pre-deployment training for the soldiers of the Hungarian Defence Forces to be sent to Mail is already under way, and the Hungarian operational plan is ready for receiving the final approval of a public law entity, the government’s authorization, Lt.-Col. (Eng.) Viktor Csabianszki, a member of the Defence Staff Operations Directorate told Hungarian News Agency MTI on Thursday, February 21.

The lieutenant-colonel told MTI that the European Council had approved the plan of the international training operation on Monday. The Hungarian operational plan has been prepared in accordance with it, and is ready to receive the governmental endorsement, which gives the authorization for the Hungarian soldiers’ participation in the ongoing operation in the West African country.

Lt.-Col. Csabianszki added that they had been in a fortunate position in assembling the Hungarian military team to be sent to the European Union (EU) training mission in Mali, because most soldiers of the Hungarian Defence Forces already have operational experience. Apart from this, every soldier must receive their mission-specific training for their given tasks before every operation.

Viktor Csabianszki pointed out that the soldiers have to meet the physical requirements in every moment, so every year they must participate in an assessment of their state of health and medical screenings. Furthermore, they must also undergo another medical screening and preparation before each operation. As Mali is a tropical country, the Hungarian soldiers need to undergo a long immunization procedure, during which they receive vaccinations for the given region too, he added.

Additionally, they will be introduced to the given conflict from its historical root to the present day and be given a detailed profile of the target country, including nationality, statehood, culture, religion and geography, with special emphasis on international law and the law of armed conflict (LOAC) in particular. As the lieutenant-colonel stressed, all soldiers must know the legal authority for their activity before setting foot on foreign soil.

Viktor Csabianszki told MTI that the headquarters of the European Union training mission is located in Bamako, the capital of Mali, but the training itself is scheduled to take place in a city situated 25-30 kilometers from the capital. The French-led operation will involve almost the whole of the Union. For example, the Hungarian soldiers are going to work together with Austrian and German trainers in the field of medicine.

Acting at the request of the President of Mali, France launched a military operation in the Western African country on January 11 to halt the advance of Islamist militias which are in control of the northern part of Mali. The objectives of the operation are to defend the statehood, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Mali, and to prevent the country from becoming the center of international terrorist groups in the region. The UN Security Council unanimously supported the military action.

On February 6, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told the commercial radio Europe 1 that the 4000 French troops deployed in Mali “was the maximum” and their number “would not be increased”. He added that their withdrawal would begin “relatively quickly in a few weeks”. Speaking in a governmental session held on the same day, Head of State Francois Hollande reaffirmed that the troop withdrawal would begin in March.

Speaking at a press conference last week, Minister of Defence Csaba Hende announced that Hungary contributes ten trainers to the EU mission in Mali. The mentor team – which is composed of six snipers, three medical specialists and one liaison officer – may travel to Mali around March. In relation with this, Viktor Csabianszki noted that once the governmental decision was made, the Hungarian liaison officer would be sent as soon as possible. The other members of the team will travel to Mali in March.


Photo: illustration

(honvedelem.hu/MTI)