Germany will continue to provide development aid to Mali despite withdrawing its forces from the jihadist-hit country, reported The Africa News.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius made the announcement during his recent visit to Mali. Pistorius along with Development Minister Svenja Schulze visited the German contingent of the UN peacekeeping mission (Minusma) in Gao (north).
Germany announced last year that it will withdraw its troops from the mission by May 2024 following repeated clashes with Mali’s ruling military leaders.
He said the withdrawal of German troops from Mali will require the next nine to twelve months depending on the circumstances.
Germany had deployed its soldiers in Mali since 2013, with a presence of up to 1,400 soldiers as part of the MINUSMA mission, which is mostly based near Gao in the north. But in recent months, the troops faced increasing difficulties, repeatedly being forced to suspend reconnaissance patrols after being denied flyover rights by Mali’s ruling military junta.
There have been growing tensions between Mali’s military rulers and the UN peacekeeping mission following the alleged arrival of Wagner operatives from Russia to bolster Malian government forces. Wagner is a Russian private security group whose actions have been criticized globally.
Earlier this month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Mali’s ruling junta to accelerate the pace of the handover to a civilian-led administration by early 2024 as promised.
Guterres noted the progress made in Mali towards a return to civilian rule by March 2024. The ruling junta has drafted a constitution and established an election management authority established. But the UN chief warns that there has “been a delay in the implementation of some key activities.
He noted the restrictions imposed by the Malian authorities on the air and land movements of the Minusma, a criticism also rejected by the government.
