The soldiers assigned to take part in the second rotation of Carpathian Pumas Detachment mission left for Mali on Thursday, 16 April in order to participate in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

The contingent made up of almost 120 people ended its training stage and was evaluated by the Joint Forces Command, which certified the fact that the detachment meets the UNO standards required in order to participate in the mission.

In order to respect the measure taken to limit the spread of COVID-19 and prevent the potential contamination of the soldiers assigned within the detachment, the personnel conducted their training for mission over March-April in the Training and Further Development Air Base of the Aeronautic Personnel, Boboc, by respecting the institutionalized isolation measures. Thus, before leaving for mission, the entire personnel of the detachment went through a 14-day isolation period, being tested both at the beginning and the end of the isolation period. At the end of the period, the military personnel were airlifted from Boboc Air Base directly to the 90th Airlift Base Otopeni, where they embarked for Mali.

***

The first Romanian detachment participating in this mission, which was initiated at mid October, is made up of approximately 120 people (pilots, technical and medical personnel) and four IAR-330 Puma L-RM helicopters.

Romania supports UNO in assisting the Government of the Republic of Mali to continue implement the Agreement for Peace, civilian protection and preventing hostile armed elements of the Agreement return in the populated areas. The Romanian detachment will conduct MEDEVAC/CASEVAC missions, troops and materiel transportation, passengers airlift missions air patrol and monitoring missions.

The Press Office