Source: Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom |

United Kingdom hands operations at Wadi Seidna airfield back to Sudanese authorities after successful evacuations

Royal Navy, Army, and RAF handed international evacuation operations back to Sudanese authorities after leaving the airfield in good order

The UK military’s evacuation Joint Task Force has handed over the coordination of evacuation operations at Wadi Seidna airfield to Sudanese authorities, after more than 20 evacuation flights. The airfield, located to the north of Khartoum, had been the UK’s primary location for evacuating UK nationals and their dependents, with…

Source: Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom |

UK troops seize suspected Daesh weapons and detain fighters in Mali

British soldiers serving the UN peacekeeping mission seized RPGs, AK47s and motorbikes during operations near Ansongo, Mali

UK troops deployed to Mali as part of the UN’s peacekeeping mission have detained three suspected Daesh terrorists and seized weapons during operations to deter and disrupt non-compliant armed groups threatening local communities. During a 17-day operation in September, soldiers from the UK’s Long Range Reconnaissance Group (LRRG) disrupted suspected…

Source: Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom |

British Troops Engage with Terrorist Fighters in Mali

British Forces deployed in Mali have killed two armed terrorist fighters after being engaged by small arms fire while on patrol

On 20 October, the UK Task Group in Mali were engaged by armed terrorist fighters while on patrol. They returned fire and killed two members of a Terrorist Armed Group. There were no UK or UN force causalities. This is the first time UK troops have come under fire in…

Source: Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom |

HMS Trent deploys to West Africa to support maritime security

The River-class patrol ship will visit Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Gambia and Cape Verde, and will take part in French-led multinational training exercises

Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Trent is setting sail to the waters of the Gulf of Guinea as she heads for security patrols and a mission to support allies in West Africa. The River-class patrol ship will visit Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Gambia and Cape Verde, and will take part in…

Source: Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom |

UK reiterates support to the fight against Boko Haram

Over 28,500 members of the Nigerian military have received UK training and Defence education in this time

UK Minister for the Armed Forces Mark Lancaster visited Nigeria this week, marking the strong Defence relationship between the two nations. During the visit, Minister for the Armed Forces saw first-hand the support the UK is providing to the Nigerian Armed Forces leading the fight against Boko Haram in North…

Source: Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom |

UK troops awarded medals for UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan

HM Ambassador to South Sudan has awarded UN medals to UK troops in recognition of their service in South Sudan

85 UK troops from the Engineering and Medical Taskforce in South Sudan have been awarded UN medals by HM Ambassador Alison Blackburne in recognition of their unstinting service in South Sudan. During their tour, the troops have undertaken projects including support of remedial works to a jetty on the River…

Source: Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom |

UK field hospital in South Sudan fully operational

The Defence Secretary has confirmed that the UK-built temporary hospital that will support a UN mission in country is now up and running

British troops are supporting the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and Sir Michael Fallon has confirmed that the Bentiu-based medical facility is fully operational, and will support over 1,800 UN peacekeepers and UN staff. This will enable military and civilian staff to carry out the work of the UNMISS…

Source: Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom |

UK anti-poaching support in Malawi to help tackle organised crime

UK Armed Forces will help stem illegal wildlife trade in Malawi by training a new force of anti-poaching trackers

A British Army team from 1 (UK) Division will deploy early in the new year to train Malawi park rangers as combat tracking instructors, which will in turn help neutralise the threat of poaching, and bring those responsible to justice. This UK support, initially focused on Malawi, could be extended…

Source: Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom |

UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial: London Communiqué

Representatives from 80 nations, including Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia are in London today to discuss Better Peacekeeping

The Governments of Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Finland, Indonesia , Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,…

Source: Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom |

UK supports training of Egyptian Armed Forces

The UK is committing to deepening our training relationship with the Egyptian Armed Forces (EAF), the Defence Secretary has announced

After training more than 80 EAF personnel across 2015/16 in Counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) and close protection, hosted in the UK, Michael Fallon has pledged to continue working alongside the Egyptian military to enable further training. The UK and Egypt have already made great steps through initial train-the-trainer focused work,…