GERMAN TROOPS WILL ONLY STAY IN MALI IF SECURITY NEEDS MET

Mon 05 September 2022:

Germany may be forced to withdraw its troops from Mali if the West African country’s authorities do not meet the troops’ security needs, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Monday.

“We are aware of our responsibility, so we will not simply pull out in the face of the first difficulties,” she said in Berlin.

“But we tell our Malian partners unequivocally what we expect with regard to the security of our soldiers. Should this not work out, it will be difficult to stay.”

Mali’s military overthrew a civilian government almost 15 months ago, one of three coups since 2012. At the time, it promised rapid elections. Currently, it claims to be planning to stage a vote in February 2024.

Western forces, particularly from former colonial power France, had been present in comparatively large numbers in the troubled country for years. However, relations with the junta became increasingly fraught, not least after Mali’s decision to bring in Russian mercenaries from the contentious Wagner Group late last year.

Mali has called the Russians “advisers,” but in February, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a major shakeup of military operations in the Sahel. French troops had been acting in place of Malian forces in some battles with insurgents.

While not all French soldiers will be withdraw, with more than half of a peak of 5,100 expected to leave, French forces that do remain will transition into more of a supporting role, leaving Mali’s military to take the lead.

Last month, German Free Democrat member of parliament Alexander Müller told DW that Mali has “turned towards Russia. And I wonder why they did it, because I cannot imagine that Russia has better interests for the Mali government.”

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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