Ninety additional UK army personnel are being sent to Bosnia and Herzegovina to support the EU mission.

Two reconnaissance platoons will be deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) for up to 6 months during the election period and will be based at theEUFOR Althea headquarters in Sarajevo. Their deployment will strengthen the mission’s capacity to foresee, monitor and prevent civil unrest acrossBiH.

The UK is a long-standing supporter of the EU mission and its role to ensure a safe and secure environment in BiH. The British Army has been contributing personnel to the mission since 2004.

The Minister for International Security Strategy, Andrew Murrison, said:

The October elections are an important milestone in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s journey towards long-term security and prosperity. This additional contribution from the UK will strengthen the mission to maintain stability over the election period.

This is a further example of the UK’s commitment to ensuring a secure and stable Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This additional support comes after a request from the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe. A lessons-learned exercise, carried out after civil unrest in BiH in February of this year, highlighted the need for additional capability in EUFOR Althea, including situational awareness and operational planning.