The commander of the Army's elite Ranger wing has arrived in Chad in advance of the Monday's expected go-ahead for the EU mission there.
The leader of the Rangers arrived in the capital N'Djamena this morning and is accompanied by a Defence Forces engineer and two ordnance NCOs. They are making initial preparations for the arrival there next weekend of 50 specialist Irish troops.
Next Monday in Brussels the mission commander, Irish General Pat Nash, is expected to outline his plans to the General & External Relations Council of the EU.
Formal approval for the mission is expected at the meeting.
The planned mission has been plagued by delays.
When their camp near the Sudanese border is ready in mid-March, the main body of 350 Irish soldiers will join the 3,700-strong mission.
The peacekeeping force is being sent to Chad to protect refugees who have fled the turmoil in neighbouring Darfur.
