Irish troops to withdraw from Chad

The Government has decided to withdraw more than 400 Irish troops from the United Nations (UN) peace enforcement mission in Chad because of uncertainty around the future of the mission.

Minister for Defence Tony Killeen said the withdrawal would happen very quickly because the rainy season begins in May, by which time roads would be impassable. This would make it impossible to withdraw the Defence Force's vehicles, its prefab style buildings on the Irish base and other large pieces of kit.

He said the safety of troops and their equipment would be compromised unless the full withdrawal was achieved before May, and while a UN mandate was still in place.

Irish troops were deployed to Chad in May 2008. There are mostly based at the Irish camp in Goz Beida in the east of the country.

The Government of Chad in recent months has repeatedly said it wants the military component of the multinational UN peace enforcement mission, MINURCAT, to leave.

In a statement last night Mr Killeen said Chad's stance had not changed despite ongoing negotiations. This meant there was very considerable uncertainty around the UN's mandate being extended beyond the expiry in May of the current mandate.

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

The issue of the approaching rainy season had forced the Irish Government's hand in making the decision now to withdraw. Mr Killeen said the Irish troops who had served in Chad had helped make it a safer place for refugees and internally displaced persons.