Kazakhstan has decided to send peacekeepers to the Middle East and Africa following a proposal by President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev. At a joint session of Parliament, deputies of the Majilis and Senate unanimously expressed their consent to send up to 430 service personnel to participate in the United Nations missions.
The initiative envisages the participation of personnel from Kazakhstan in the following missions: UN Disengagement Observer Force in the Golan Heights (UNDOF, Syria – Israel), UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO, Palestine – Israel), UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS, South Sudan), and the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA, Sudan).
“The Armed Forces of Kazakhstan are ready to allocate both individual servicemen as military observers and staff officers, and specialized units: infantry, medical, reconnaissance, engineering, which are most needed in UN missions,” said Minister of Defense, Ruslan Zhaksylykov.
To implement this decision, an international treaty will be concluded with the UN, which will determine the obligations of the parties, as well as the issues of financial and logistical support for the participation of the contingent in the mission. Transportation of service personnel and property will be at the expense of the Kazakhstani side.
This decision reflects Kazakhstan’s desire to look outward, take its place on the global stage, and participate more actively in international efforts. The deployment is set to begin in March 2024.
