AFRICA:The role of 350 experienced Irish troops will be vital to the success of the EU force in central Africa, writes Tom Clonan
Less than 24 hours after UN Security Council Resolution 1778 approved an EU force for the Central African Republic (CAR) and Chad, Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea secured Cabinet approval, in principle, for the deployment of up to 350 Irish soldiers to the region.
The Minister has acted swiftly after growing media criticism of perceived foot-dragging on Darfur by western governments and their military commanders.
In Ireland's case, an initial reconnaissance element is likely to be on the ground within the next fortnight or so. Its task, as part of an EU battlegroup-type force of 3,000 personnel, will be to provide armed protection and vital aid to half a million refugees and internally-displaced people.
The impending deployment of the mainly French EU force has been welcomed by the president of Chad, Idriss Deby, and by the foreign minister of CAR, Come Zoumara. Despite the official welcome, the areas to which Irish troops may deploy could be hostile. Militant Islamist groups in Chad have said that they will "resist" western intervention.
Defence Forces personnel, however, are well used to such hostile environments, particularly in Africa. Irish troops have most recently operated very successfully in Liberia under harsh and difficult conditions. Army personnel have also served in Eritrea, in Western Sahara, in Cote d'Ivoire and in Darfur itself. The Irish also acquitted themselves well in Somalia during the clan warfare of the 1990s.
Between 1993 and 1995 Irish troops operating under a robust (UN Chapter 7) peace-enforcement mandate managed to secure and guarantee, by judicious force of arms, vital aid to hundreds of thousands of displaced Somalis.
The Irish military deployment to Somalia, which was considered a success, coincided with the US military's clash with Mohamed Farah Aidid's militia in the disastrous "Battle of Mogadishu", which left 18 US Special Forces troops dead and thousands of Somalis killed or injured in October 1993.
The Defence Forces, if deployed to Chad and CAR, could make an immediate difference to half a million people. In terms of how the largely French force carries out its Chapter 7 mandate, the Defence Forces contingent will hopefully be well placed to share its experience of the Irish softly-softly approach to peace enforcement which, in turn, may save many more lives, African and European.
The proposed EU mission marks something of a watershed for Europe and the Irish. It is hoped that it will mark a transition from the seemingly endless debate about proposed EU battlegroups and rapid reaction forces to a real contribution to peace and stability in Africa. Ireland's role may prove vital not only in bringing security but also in establishing the EU's military credentials in a pro-people, professional and humane fashion - hallmarks to date of the Irish military.
Tom Clonan is The Irish Times security analyst. He lectures in the School of Media, DIT.