Estonian soldiers return from Central African Republic mission

The Estonian servicemen have returned from their mission in the Central African Republic. Estonia was the second country after France to take up a peace mission in CAR.

"We were the first country after France to be ready to go to Central Africa," said Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas, while welcoming the servicemen back home.

"Estonia gave a clear promise and started fulfilling it. Our determination gives Estonia a moral right to expect immediate help from others should we ever need it," he added.

The Estonian servicemen started their mission in the Central African Republic in the beginning of May with a task to carry out security and support operations in order to free the troops of the African Union peacekeeping mission and the French troops to carry out immediate operations.

In approximately four months, the Estonian infantry carried out over a hundred patrols in the CAR capital of Bangui, around fifty of them at night, completed convoy securing tasks and participated in about twenty operations. In addition, Estonians have ensured the security of the EUFOR UCATEX base.

Estonian servicemen were also responsible for the third and fifth districts of Bangui, which are one of the most critical areas in the capital with Muslim and Christian citizens.