Military briefing Government on Mali security situation where 34 Irish troops are based

The Defence Forces said 20 personnel served in the EU mission in Bamako and Koulikoro in the south of the country, and 14 in the UN mission in Bamako and Gao, which is in the north. File photo

Military intelligence staff are understood to be briefing senior officials in the Department of Defence on the security situation in Mali, where 34 Irish troops are part of UN and EU missions.

Any decision to leave the volatile west African state would be made by the Irish Government, though it is one that would be informed by security briefings.