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Fiji to downsize peacekeeping force in Egypt's Sinai amid security concerns

Xinhua, June 2, 2016 Adjust font size:

Fiji has decided to downsize its peacekeeping force in Egypts' Sinai Peninsula as the situation there worsens and security threats increase, the government-owned Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) confirmed Thursday.

Of the total of 338 Fijian peacekeepers in Sinai, only 92 will stay with the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO), tasked with supervising the implementation of the security provisions of the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace.

"Given the planned reduction of Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) MFO troop's strength from 338 to 92 personnel, this has prompted the RFMF to re-evaluate the overseas deployment plans and the insertion of returning MFO personnel into various units locally as well as consideration of some to other overseas deployments," Defense Minister Timoci Natuva has told the parliament.

The remaining 92 Fijian peacekeepers will be stationed at locations where they have to protect civilian observer units based at the MFO's South Camp in Sham-el-Shiek, Natuva said.

There is no plan to shrink Fiji's battalion in other peacekeeping nations despite existing threats, said the defense minister. Endit