Operation PRESENCE

The Tactical Airlift Detachment consists of one CC-130J Hercules aircraft, operated and supported by 30 to 50 CAF members. It deploys for multiple [SCVH1] episodes several times per year to assist with transporting troops, equipment and supplies to the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

In 2022, the Tactical Airlift Detachment transported 847 personnel and more than 500,000 lbs. of cargo with close to 100 hours of flight time combined.

Uganda, 2019 - 2021

Between 2019 and 2021, the CAF had deployed a Tactical Airlift Detachment on an episodic basis to Entebbe, Uganda to assist the UN’s Regional Support Centre in the sustainment of ongoing UN operations. In doing so, the CAF has played an important role in helping to supply approximately 80,000 military and police personnel as well as thousands of civilian staff on peace support operations across the African continent with critical resources. 

While deployed on Operation PRESENCE - Uganda, a Tactical Airlift Detachment operated from Entebbe, Uganda, to transport personnel, equipment and supplies on behalf of the UN to sustain ongoing missions in the region. 

Op PRESENCE (Mali) is the CAF contribution to United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), in support of the Government of Canada's peace operations strategy.

Operation PRESENCE (Mali) Task Force Bamako is comprised of a contingent of up to 10 members supporting MINUSMA in Bamako and Gao, Mali. Of those 10 members, up to six work at the MINUSMA headquarters in Bamako, and up to four CAF staff officers are embedded within the United Kingdom Long Range Reconnaissance Task Force based in Gao.

In March 2023, the Government of Canada announced the renewal of Op PRESENCE (Mali) until March 31, 2026.

From August 1, 2018 to August 31, 2019, Task Force-Mali provided consistent and reliable aeromedical evacuation coverage for civilians and UN peacekeepers as part of MINUSMA. 

• The CH-147F Chinook helicopters conducted medical evacuations
• The CH-146 Griffon helicopters flew as armed escorts for the Chinooks. They also carried out other critical missions for MINUSMA as required

This support allowed our partners the freedom to conduct long-range security operations in remote and vulnerable areas of the country.

Our highly-trained aviators and crews operated our flying emergency rooms. Aboard were:

• our force protection team
• a flight surgeon
• a critical care nursing officer
• two medical technicians

On July 31, 2019, the CAF began its responsible departure from Mali. After more than a year of operations in Mali, the Canadian Armed Forces air task force deployed in Gao completed its mission. An important aspect of Canada’s multi-faceted support included providing critical aeromedical evacuation, logistic and transport capabilities as part of Operation PRESENCE-Mali. The task force ceased transport aviation tasks and focused solely on medical evacuation operations until the mission ended on August 31, 2019.

A phased departure ensured a smooth and efficient transition between the Canadian and incoming Romanian helicopter detachments.

Since July 2019, the CAF contingent has continued as Operation PRESENCE (Mali) Task Force Bamako.

Beginning in August 2021, the CAF has deployed a training team on an episodic basis to assist the UN’s Engagement Platoon Initiative. The Canadian contingent is responsible for the Engagement Platoon Pilot Course and Infantry Battalion Specialty Training Material.

The United Nations Engagement Platoon (UN-EP) is a tactical level military capability that supports a UN infantry battalion. The purpose of the UN-EP is to enhance the situational awareness of the battalion by studying the demographics of the area of operations to identify vulnerable areas and at-risk populations. Gender balanced, the UN-EP can access a larger and more representative cross section of the community to break down barriers in communicating with the local population.

The CAF contingent consists of up to 10 members including trainers and support staff.

Past deployments include:

• Kigali, Rwanda, August-September 2021
• Entebbe, Uganda, February-March 2022
• Entebbe, Uganda, March 2023
• Brindisi, Italy, June 2023

A gender-balanced team of four CAF members have deployed on Operation PRESENCE (Elsie) for an initial period between October 2022 and February 2023, with episodic follow on deployments in the subsequent months. During this time, the Training Development Assessment Team (TDAT) worked with their Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) counterparts and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, to provide technical assistance and training support.

This TDAT was deployed to Ghana through Operation PRESENCE, as part of Canada and Ghana’s bilateral partnership through the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations. This is not a UN mission, but a deployment of a new Canadian Armed Forces TDAT to Ghana in order to enhance Ghana’s capacity to deploy uniformed women on United Nations Peace Support Operations.

As bilateral partners in the Elsie Initiative since 2018, Canada and Ghana share best practices, as well as develop and test innovative approaches to increase women’s meaningful participation in uniformed military roles in UN peace operations.

The CAF members leading this effort are uniquely qualified to provide tailored bilateral assistance to the GAF in order to increase the meaningful and significant participation of uniformed women to UN peacekeeping operations.