National Guard troops depart for EU‘s Central African Republic mission

A group of Georgian service members will take over from their colleagues in a European Union mission in the Central African Republic, following a formal send-off ceremony in Tbilisi on Friday.

A National Guard platoon will become the third Georgian unit to serve in the EU Military Training Mission in the country (EUTM RCA), replacing their predecessors following a regular six-month rotation.

Troops from the platoon were addressed by Brigadier General Shalva Jabakhidze and Chief of National Guard Colonel Irakli Chumburidze during the send-off.

The departing service members are addressed in a formal send-off ceremony. Photo: Georgia’s Defence Ministry press office.

The two commanders wished the unit a successful service in the mission, as family members and armed forces representatives attended the occasion.

The ceremony also included service members of the Norwegian Home Guard, in Georgia for participating in the Noble Partner multinational drills.

The EUTM RCA mission has involved Georgian troops since January 2017. Service members from the country have participated in various EU peacekeeping missions in the CAR since 2014.