Just over 200 Irish soldiers are to go to Africa in December as part of an United Nations peacekeeping mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
These are the first Irish soldiers to be sent. The Government has committed two contingents for six months each to the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE).
The UNMEE has been active since June 2000 and was brought in after two years of fighting between the countries in a border dispute.
Up to 4,200 peacekeepers operate as part of UNMEE at any one time.
An army spokesperson said the 209 troops would be involved in security and administration where the responsibilities would include providing security for the mission headquarters, security for logistical convoys, military escorts and communication and technical support.
There are already over 800 Irish troops abroad working in Lebanon, East Timor and the former Yugoslavia.