12th Czech Armed Forces (CAF) Task Force EUTM in Mali
The Czech Republic has joined the European Union Training Mission (EUTM) in Mali in a bid to support Armed Forces of the Republic of Mali in their effort to suppress insurgents' activities, and deliver additional military equipment. The deployment was passed by both chambers of the Czech Parliament.
12th Czech Armed Forces (CAF) Task Force EUTM in Mali
While the task of the 1st Czech unit was to guard the EUTM Headquarters in the capital of Bamako in cooperation with Malian and French soldiers, from the 2nd unit the Czechs also train Malian soldiers as instructors.
Commander of the 12th Czech Task Force EUTM assumed the operational task on the 9th September 2018 to serve in Mali for six months.
Czech soldiers closely cooperate with French, German, Mailan and Spanish soldiers. They go on in training of Malian soldiers at the Koulikoro Training Centre (KTC), some 50 km off Bamako.
At the beginning of Czech participation in the mission in 2013, the mandate was for a period of 15 months and up to 50 soldiers. But during years, the Czech Parliament repeatedly prolonged the deployment of the same number of personnel but according to resolutions of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies from May and June 2018, the Czech contribution was reinforced with extra 70 soldiers.
Even though the guard mission of the EUTM HQ Base in Bamako remains the primary one, soldiers also protect KTC, train Malian soldiers, escort convoys and carry out patrol activities. The new unit, which is commanded by First Lieutenant Roman Kamensky and is fully operational as of the 10th December 2018, is part of a joint Czech-Spanish KTC battalion.
Commander of the 12th CAF Task Force EUTM:
- Captain Zdenek Sluka
The core of the Task Force is formed by soldiers of the 41st Mechanised Battalion based in Zatec and the 43rd Airborne Battalion based in Chrudim. The unit is complemented by military personnel the 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade HQ based in Zatec, the 42nd Mechanised Battalion based in Tabor, the 74th Light Motorised Battalion based in Bucovice, the 102nd Reconnaissance Battalion based in Prostejov, the 15th Engineers Regiment based in Bechyne, the 14th Logistics Support Regiment based in Pardubice, the 21st Tacticl Air Force Base from Caslav, the 24th Air Transportation Base from Prague, the Military Medical Agency based in Hluin and the Training Command-Military Academy from Vyskov.
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Previous Czech units in EUTM, Mali
Updated: December 12, 2018