Some 100 Dutch soldiers will leave from Eindhoven airport on Tuesday to take part in a UN mission in Mali, the NRC reports.

In total, the Netherlands is sending 450 soldiers to the peace-keeping mission in northern parts of the country. The aim is to protect the local population and try to improve the relationship between the central government and the marginalised Tuareg people in the north, the NRC says.

UN forces are not only allowed to defend themselves but to use ‘all necessary resources’ to protect locals. The Dutch contribution involves commandos, marines, military police and analysts. Some 70 Dutch soldiers left for the African country last week.

The mission will last until the end of 2015.