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The Mali mission that the Canadian government announced Monday had a familiar ring to it. Canada will contribute two Chinook helicopters, four armed Griffons and an air support contingent.

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland pointed out that the contribution meets the government’s pledge to return Canada to peacekeeping and peace operations.

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During the 2015 federal election campaign, then Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau promised that his government would “renew Canada’s commitment to peacekeeping operations.”

Monday’s announcement has a familiar ring to it. That’s because the UN had thought it convinced the Liberal government in 2016 to contribute the Chinooks and Griffons to the Mali mission. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan had said that year the government was focused on Africa for a UN contribution. Mali was “one place we need to be mindful of,” Sajjan added.

In September 2016 Canada sent a team to Mali to conduct a reconnaissance mission in that country as a prelude to a potential deployment. Members of the Canadian Forces, the RCMP and Global Affairs Canada, took part in the reconnaissance.