Germany on Friday approved the extension of its military mission in Mali for one final year, as part of a plan to slowly withdraw the country’s troops from the mission in the West African nation by 2024, reported Reuters.
The German lawmakers approved the mandate for German troops’ participation in the U.N. mission known as MINUSMA by 375 votes to 263, with one abstention. It provides for the deployment of up to 1,400 troops until May 31, 2024, at the latest. The country’s main opposition coalition had called for troops to be pulled out by the end of this year.
Last year, Germany announced its decision to withdraw its troops from Mali, which currently number 1,100, from the mission by next year. The decision was taken due to tensions with the country’s ruling military junta.
Germany said the withdrawal decision by May 2024 was taken considering into account Mali’s election that was expected in February and ensures a structured withdrawal, points that the opposition questioned on Friday.
The UN’s MINUSMA mission was formed in 2013 to help foreign and local troops battle Islamist militants. However, in recent months there have been several instances of Malian people protesting against the mission. Mali, which saw two military coups in 2022 alone, is currently ruled by the military.
The UN mission deployed more than 12,000 military personnel in the country. Bangladesh, Chad, and Egypt are the three main contributors to the mission.
European countries’ relationship with Mali has deteriorated since a military coup in 2020 and since the ruling military junta invited troops from the Wagner Group, a Kremlin-linked private military company, to support its fight against insurgents.
Germany has already begun withdrawing some of its military equipment this month. The country however ensured that it will remain committed to security in the Sahel region despite its planned withdrawal of its troops from Mali.
