At the end of last year, the German government decided to withdraw German soldiers from Mali, where they serve in the UN peacekeeping force, by the spring of 2024 at the latest. Boris Pistorius, the new defense minister who recently took office, has a different view.
According to the global organization, Mali is the most dangerous UN peacekeeping mission, and 14 Blue Helmets have lost their lives in the West African country in the past year.
The newly appointed Minister V.I Sueddeutsche Zeitung per page.
At that time, the Schultz government, with the participation of Pistorius’s predecessor, Christine Lamprecht, decided to set a deadline for ending Germany’s participation in the mission, but at the same time made it a condition that the German army units there not be hindered from deploying drones.
In his statement, Pistorius hinted that because of the ban on flying drones, German soldiers could not leave their camp at all or only a short distance away. He added that because of this they are unable to carry out peacekeeping missions.
In such a case, publishing is just a waste of money and time.
With special regard to those soldiers who risk their lives separated from their families and friends.”
According to the previous agreement between the UN and the Malian authorities, prior permission from the Malian government is required for the deployment of drones, planes and helicopters. The last such statement was before Christmas.
Pistorius stated that a new decision is expected in May this year.
But first, he wants to travel to Mali to see for himself the actual situation.
1,100 soldiers of the German army are currently serving in the peacekeeping mission of the world organization in Mali. Its mission is to protect the civilian population of the besieged country. According to German military experts, the Mali mission is currently the most dangerous foreign peacekeeping deployment in the German army.
The government’s previous decision made the withdrawal planned for May 2024 dependent on elections scheduled for February of the same year.
The experts also mentioned that the European Union has already canceled its training mission serving in the African country, and the European Union has also provided military assistance in the form of military advice and training for the joint forces and national armed forces of the countries of the Sahel region.
However, due to problems with cooperation with the military junta in Mali, the mission – in which German soldiers also participate – was transferred to neighboring Niger.
French forces left the former French colony next to Burkina Faso last year after deteriorating relations with the local military junta, and Russia gained more influence in the former French colony.
The people of the region, which also includes Mali, are in constant fear by various Islamic groups, and armed clashes and attacks that claim the lives of innocent civilians occur in the region daily.
Opening image: MTI/EPA/Clemens Bilan
