On November 25 homecoming ceremony for 42 service members of the National Defence Volunteer Force, Lithuanian Land Force, was held after their deployment to the United Nations operation in Mali (Africa). Members of the 2nd Territorial Unit, Darius and Girėnas Military District, National Defence Volunteer Force carried out a six-month rotation at the United Nations Multinational Integrated Stabilization Mission MINUSMA in the eastern part of Mali, province of Gao. It is the 11th rotation formed by the National Defence Volunteer Force. The next, 12th rotation is formed by the 8th Territorial Unit, Great Battle Military District, NDVF.
The troops were welcomed back by Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas, Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen Valdemaras Rupšys, Commander of the National Defence Volunteer Force Col Linas Kubilius, commanders of NDVF territorial units and other guests. The troops were decorated with the National Defence System Medals for International Deployments.
“When our troops serve in multinational operations they strengthen the security of our country. Lithuanians serve in operation MINUSMA as part of the German Contingent and all of us know well what a critical partner Germany is to us. As long as Germany needs us, we will deploy together to international operations together with it. Our troops get ready to defend our country as they interact with Allies and fulfill Lithuania’s international commitments as a reliable Ally should,” said Minister of National Defence A. Anušauskas.
Chief of Defence Lt Gen V. Rupšys underscored to the troops that “wherever service members are deployed to carry out the mission, their primary mission is always the security of their home country. Not just because of the conflicts and wars without borders and our commitments abut also the presence of our Allies here in Lithuania.”
The Lithuanian troops were integrated into a German company and in charge of force protection within the military base territory. Another five Lithuanian troops are delegated to the mission headquarters. German has recently announced the planned withdrawal from the mission as of May 2024, troop withdrawal to be gradually completed over the year. Most of the Lithuanian contingent will probably pull out along with them.
The United Nations launched Operation MINUSMA in Mali in 2013 to stabilize the country, facilitate implementation of the action plan for the transition period, protect the civilian population, promote and protect human rights, arrange humanitarian assistance, preserve cultural heritage and help ensure justice ant national and international levels. Lithuania began deploying NDVF-formed Force Protection Units to the operation in October 2017.
