SANDF team off to Ivory Coast

2005-06-10 15:24

Pretoria - A six-strong South African National Defence Force team was leaving for the Ivory Coast on Friday, military authorities said in a statement.

The six were going to prepare the way for a 40-member SA military advisory and monitoring team that was to follow.

"This deployment is in reaction to a request by the President of South Africa, Mr Thabo Mbeki, to the Minister of Defence, Mr Mosiuoa Lekota, to assist with the facilitation of the peace process in Ivory Coast," the SANDF said.

"While deployed in Ivory Coast, the team will assist Mr Sopuka, the Special Envoy appointed by President Mbeki, with the mediation of the peace process."

The team's tasks will include liaison, planning assistance, monitoring and verification tasks and maintaining a presence at 11 disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration sites.

- SAPA