Azerbaijan to Send Peacekeepers to South Sudan

Baku / 28.11.18 / Turan: Azerbaijan plans to send peacekeepers to South Sudan. They will take part in an international mission under a UN mandate, the press service of the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan said.

Sending the Azerbaijani military to South Sudan is scheduled for January 2019. The Ministry of Defense, however, does not specify the number of the Azerbaijani peacekeeping contingent.

At the same time, the draft decision on the direction of the Azerbaijani military to South Sudan, submitted to the parliament of the country says about sending personnel of 4 people - 3 officers and 1 observer.

The Azerbaijani military participated in peacekeeping operations in Kosovo and Iraq in the past. Currently, the country's armed forces contingent, including 120 military, two military doctors and 2 engineering and strengthening specialists are involved in the operation in Afghanistan.

The independence of South Sudan was recognized on July 9, 2011 after the referendum. However, after the attempted coup d'etat in 2013, the internal conflict intensified in the country and, by decision of the UN Security Council, a peacekeeping mission was launched there. -06D--