Kazakhstan to Deploy Peacekeepers to Middle East and Africa
Kazakh Parliament Approves Deployment of Peacekeepers for UN Missions
The Kazakh Parliament has given its approval to deploy up to 430 peacekeepers to participate in United Nations missions, as reported by the Mazhilis press service from a joint meeting held on Jan. 19.
The peacekeepers will be involved in various UN missions, including the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights, the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO, Palestine-Israel), the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA, Sudan).
The deployment is set to begin in March, with 139 military personnel and their own military equipment, weapons, and property being sent as a reserve company to the UNDOF mission in the Golan Heights.
Kazakh Defense Minister Ruslan Zhaksylykov, reading out the message of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, highlighted the country’s previous involvement in UN missions. Since 2014, 67 Kazakh officers have participated in UN missions in various countries, including Western Sahara, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, the Central African Republic, and Lebanon, in roles such as military observers and staff officers. Additionally, since 2018, 538 Kazakh military personnel have been part of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon mission as a peacekeeping unit.
Currently, six Kazakh officers serve in Western Sahara, two officers in the Central African Republic, two officers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and nine military personnel in Lebanon.
President Tokayev emphasized that sending troops to UN peacekeeping missions not only strengthens international security but also elevates Kazakhstan’s global standing. Participating in UN missions will also allow the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan to acquire the necessary combat skills required for peacekeeping operations, therefore improving the combat training of troops.
According to Tokayev, the Armed Forces are prepared to provide individual military personnel as military observers and staff officers, as well as specialized units such as infantry, medical, reconnaissance, and engineering, which are highly sought after in UN missions. This decision aligns with Kazakhstan’s commitment to contribute to global peace and security.
