LONDON: The British government is set to dispatch about 350 military personnel to Mali and West Africa to support French forces, as part of a UK mission to train local forces and engage in “force protection,” 10 Downing Street has said.
According to reports, this includes up to 40 military advisers who will train soldiers in Mali and 200 British soldiers to be sent to neighbouring African countries to assist in the training of the army.
UK has offered a roll-on, roll-off ferry to transport equipment to the French force in Mali. No 10 said that the country was doing what it could to support the French mission.
On Sunday British Prime Minister David Cameron assured French President François Hollande that the UK was keen to provide military assistance, including the training of local forces.
In Brussels on Tuesday, British representatives will be attending a meeting to discuss the provision of troops as part of an EU mission to the African country.
DND
