Call for review of Chad troop withdrawal decision

THE association representing rank and file members of the defence forces has asked Defence Minister Tony Killeen to reconsider his decision to withdraw Irish troops from Chad.

In excess of 400 Irish troops have been serving in Chad since May 2008 under the United Nations mission MINURCAT.

Last Tuesday, Mr Killeen announced that the Government had made its decision because of a lack of certainty regarding the continuation of the mission mandate, which ends in May.

Under both national and international law, Ireland cannot remain in Chad without a UN mandate.

Mr Killeen said the four-month rainy season in Goz Beida, where the defence forces contingent is based, begins at the end of May, and makes road movement in Chad impossible.

He said in the absence of an extension of the mandate to end-December 2010, the defence forces could be left in a situation where they could not extract themselves before the current mandate expires.

The minister indicated on Thursday the Government could reconsider the decision if they got assurances from the UN the mandate would be reviewed.

PDFORRA, the rank and file body, met the minister on Thursday and told him the decision was premature.

“We impressed on the minister the need to keep his options open on Chad, especially if the mandate is to be renewed by the UN,” said Simon Devereaux, deputy general secretary.

“If we pull our troops from the mission in Chad, we will have roughly 70 people on overseas missions at the end of this year, the lowest since the early 60s. We have authorisation to have over 700 people on overseas missions and we should be endeavouring to fulfil this commitment.”