Britain to train Nepal Army for UN mission in Mali

A team of British explosives experts arrived in Nepal today to assist the Nepal Army in their preparation for UN peacekeeping operations in strife-torn Mali.
The five C-IED experts have recently returned from operations in Afghanistan and will provide training in Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Route Opening and War Materiel Removal training, a press release issued by the British Embassy here said.
"The British Army shares a long and successful history of cooperation and support with the Nepal Army," it said.
"The support provided by the Nepal Army engineers showed what could be achieved if the UK and Nepal worked together," the statement said.

Mali used to be one of West Africa's most stable democracies until a March 2012 coup, following which separatist rebels and later Islamic militants seized control of northern Mali.
They were driven into the desert after France launched a military offensive to oust them.