Chad:The head of the EU's military committee has warned that the EU's mission to Chad could be delayed due to a lack of specialised troops and equipment.
Gen Henri Bentégeat told journalists yesterday a decision would be taken shortly about whether the deployment would have to be delayed until January.
He was speaking after holding talks on the proposed mission with EU military chiefs, including the chief of staff of the Defence Forces, Lieut Gen Dermot Earley.
The EU mission will aim to improve security and make it easier for aid groups to work in refugee camps in the unstable regions where Darfur meets Chad and the Central African Republic. Irish officer Maj Gen Pat Nash will lead the proposed mission.
Gen Bentégeat said the Chad mission required a range of military assets, perhaps most significantly up to 10 helicopters, to accomplish its task. He also outlined the need for other air assets, medical support and specialised logistics personnel.
"Today we can still envisage the deployment of the force in early December, on condition of course that certain essential, crucial elements are provided," he said. "What could happen if we don't get them right now is some delay in the action."
He said the vast majority of the 4,300 troops required for the mission were in place, with almost half the contribution coming from France. Other EU states that have agreed to send troops to Chad are the Republic, Poland, Sweden and the Netherlands.
EU foreign and defence ministers will meet on Monday to consider the request for more equipment and specialised personnel, and Gen Bentégeat expressed confidence that states would provide the military assets. But with many EU states stretched militarily due to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, a delay is possible.
Yesterday a senior UN official warned that a separate joint UN-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur could fail unless countries provided more helicopters and lorries.
Jean-Marie Guéhenno, head of the UN peacekeeping department, said the force needed six attack helicopters and 18 transport helicopters. The rough terrain and political uncertainties regarding the joint UN-African Union mission may also explain the reticence of states to provide equipment to the mission.
Gen Bentégeat said he did not think the EU mission would be affected by recent tension between France and Chad over a French charity's attempt to fly 103 African children to Europe.
The Chadian authorities are holding six French charity workers accused of kidnapping.
"If we are not welcome we will make ourselves welcome by negotiation or deterrence," said Gen Bentégeat. "We are prepared to use force if necessary and within the limits of the rules of engagement, which have yet to be approved."