Reconnaissance Mission Sent to Study Peacekeeping Operations in Mali

RCMP Assistant Commissioner Todd Shean places flowers during the National Peacekeepers' Day ceremony in Ottawa on Aug. 9, 2015. Ottawa is sending a reconnaissance mission to take a closer look at the U.N. peacekeeping operations in Mali. The Canadian Press/Fred Chartrand

OTTAWA—The federal government is sending a “reconnaissance mission” to take a closer look at the United Nations peacekeeping operations in Mali.

Officials insist the fact-finding mission, a small group of diplomats, military personnel, and RCMP officers, does not mean the government has decided to send Canadian peacekeepers to the west African country.

However, Mali seems to be at the top of the list of peacekeeping missions that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could announce as early as mid-September.

The Liberal government said last week that it will make up to 600 troops available for U.N. peacekeeping operations, including specialized units and equipment such as engineers, medical personnel, and military aircraft.

Sending a recon mission to Mali is a strong indication that Canada is putting it high on a list of possible deployments.

— Walter Dorn, Royal Military College of Canada