Proposed Swedish participation in UN peacekeeping mission in Mali

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, May 30, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Today the Government decided to submit a bill to the Riksdag on Swedish participation in the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

The proposed Swedish force of approximately 70 persons in all will include a transport aircraft with an in-flight security team, an air transport unit and a national support unit, together with staff officers. Capacity to augment the force at short notice if the need arises is required, and the maximum number of personnel requested is therefore set at 160.

The United Nations Security Council has established MINUSMA to contribute to improving the security situation in Mali, to restore the country s constitutional and democratic order and to create a secure environment for humanitarian assistance. It is to begin its mission on 1 July 2013. The mission will include military personnel, police officers and other civilian personnel and will be deployed for a period initially set at 12 months.

The intention is to coordinate Swedish participation in MINUSMA with other Nordic countries.

"The objective of Sweden s contribution is to help stabilise the situation in Mali. Swedish participation is also an expression of our support for the United Nations and its peacekeeping activities," says Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt.

Sweden is already contributing training staff to the EU military training mission in Mali and has extensive bilateral long-term development cooperation with the country. In addition, Sweden is one of the largest humanitarian donors to Mali and the Sahel region.

Sweden's participation is also in line with its overarching commitment to peace and development in Africa.