Detachment Marfil’s 32nd contingent takes over

• The first relief of 2021 carried out by Air Force personnel under the control of the Operations Command has been taken over in Dakar

The change of command ceremony was held at 13:00 h. within Biase Diagne International Airport, Detachment Marfil’s new location.

LTCol. Jesus Andrés Margaretto has taken over the command of the detachment from LTCol. Roberto Alcalá Sanchez. The ceremony was carried out observing all protocols against the COVID 19 pandemic, and consisted on signing the transfer of authority (TOA) minutes. The detachment is mostly made of members of the Air deployment support squadron (EADA), airborne control mobile group (GRUMOCA) and Air Force’s 35^th wing.

Detachment Marfil, under the operational command of the Operations Command has assigned the logistical aerial transport in support to the French troops, within the frame of the Operation Barkhane to counter terrorism. Therefore, Detachment Marfil supports MINUSMA and MINUSCA missions, in order to stabilize Mali and the Republic of Central Africa, also EU missions EUTM RCA and EUTM Mali, thus supporting and training the Armed Forces of those countries and the Jointed Force G5 Sahel.

After seven years of operation, Detachment Marfil, equipped with two medium range tactical transport C-295 airplanes, based in wing 35 (Getafe), strengthens the contribution of the Armed Forces with the Spanish government's commitment to peace and international security.