A vanguard force of Irish peacekeepers has deployed to Chad ahead of an EU peacekeeping force. Despite government overtures to Chad's rebels, this EU force probably will face a rebel threat.
Fifty Irish peacekeepers deployed Feb. 21 to eastern Chad to prepare for the full deployment of a planned 3,700-strong EU peacekeeping force (EUFOR). Meanwhile, the Chadian government is believed to be trying to negotiate with leaders of the Chadian rebel force known as the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD).
The Chadian government is working to buy off the UFDD to prevent it from attacking the EUFOR force, but EUFOR probably still will face other rebel threats.
The 50 members of the Irish Army Ranger Wing deployed to the Chadian capital, N’Djamena, on Feb. 21. This vanguard of the 450 peacekeepers Ireland is expected to send to Chad will deploy to the eastern Chadian towns of Abeche and Goz Beida. Once there, they will seek base camps for the full EUFOR force.