27 March 2013/15 Jumada l-Ula 1434/07 Farvardin 1391/16 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

“This will be the first occasion there has been a formal joint deployment under the UN mandate of mission involving our defence forces and the U.K.”-Alan Shatter, Republic of Ireland’s Minister of Defence

Reports that troops from the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland have arrived in Mali, to help back up the ongoing French occupation of the West African country.

Irish media reporting that the whole invasion of Mali, by the French in January 2013, was part of European Union (EU) plans made in December 2012, which was called a “training mission” by the EU.  The use of British and Irish troops is also being officially called a UN mandated training mission!

The United States is establishing more drone bases throughout Africa, and France recently sent troops into the Central African country of Central African Republic.