At Thursday’s sitting, the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu sent to the first reading in the plenary assembly the draft Resolution of the Riigikogu which gives the mandate to use up to 55 members of the Defence Forces in the four-month peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic.

“Under international law, an official invitation from the government of the Central African Republic or a mandate of the UN Security Council is necessary to use the Defence Forces. On Tuesday, the Security Council passed the Resolution necessary to start the EU military mission in the Central African Republic,” Chairman of the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu Mati Raidma said.

The mandate given by the Riigikogu enables Estonia to participate in the European Union military mission in the Central African Republic with 55 members of the Defence Forces until 31 August this year. The majority of the Estonian contingent consists of a unit of group size and a support element. The task of the Estonian infantry platoon will most likely be to conduct security and support operations with the aim of enabling the units of the French and African Union-led peacekeeping operation MISCA to conduct other operations. Also, a mandate to involve up to five staff officers or professional specialists until the end of this year is given for the same mission.

Estonia’s participation with a unit will be a one-time event which means that, after the end of the four-month rotation, a new unit will not be sent to the Central African Republic.

The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “The Use of the Defence Forces in the Performance of the International Duties of the Estonian State in the European Union Peacekeeping Mission in the Central African Republic” (583 OE) will be at the first reading in the plenary assembly on 11 February. The draft Resolution will be deliberated at two readings.