doubts grow
Lambrecht wants guarantees for Mali mission
02/15/2022 11:59 am
The mandate for the Bundeswehr mission in Mali ends in around 100 days. And an extension is becoming increasingly unlikely. Germany has criticized the postponement of elections and the country’s alleged cooperation with Russian mercenaries. Defense Minister Lambrecht is demanding commitments.
Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht is increasingly expressing doubts about the deployment of the Bundeswehr in Mali. “If elections are postponed by four or five years, then this is no basis for further German involvement,” said the SPD politician in Berlin. She also criticized possible cooperation between the Malian government and Russian mercenaries as “completely unacceptable”. “The idea that Malian soldiers are trained by our women and men at EUTM and then cooperate with Russian mercenaries is unthinkable,” Lambrecht explained.
The minister had previously been informed about the current situation in a virtual conversation with representatives of the Bundeswehr and the ambassadors in Mali and Niger. According to the Ministry of Defence, the FDP member of the Bundestag Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann and her CDU colleague Henning Otte, the chair and co-chair of the defense committee, also took part.
The Bundeswehr has around 1,000 soldiers stationed in Mali as part of the UN peacekeeping force MINUSMA. Another 300 soldiers are involved in the European training mission EUTM. The missions serve to fight against radical Islamic groups. “During the talks it became clear that the security situation in Mali is steadily deteriorating,” the ministry said.
Lambrecht wants answers on the Sahel trip
Strack-Zimmermann had previously stated the prerequisites for continuing the missions: It had to be unmistakably clear that German engagement there was desired. The Malian government must guarantee this as well as the conduct of correct elections. The situation in Mali is “extremely complex”. The point is to prevent instability or the spread of terror, which would also affect Europe’s security. Millions of people were threatened with flight and expulsion.
The Mali mandates of the Bundestag expire on May 31, an extension is currently unclear. The announcement by the military government in Bamako that planned elections will not be held for five years has been particularly criticized. In addition, reports of the use of Russian mercenaries by the “Wagner” group are causing irritation.
Malian Defense Minister Colonel Sadio Camara assured Lambrecht that the government had not signed any contracts with “Wagner”. “I have agreed with Mr. Camara that we will exchange ideas again very soon and as personally as possible when I make up for my postponed trip to the Sahel,” explained Lambrecht. “By then, I expect reliable commitments from the Malian government.”
A previously planned trip by the minister to Mali had to be canceled due to a Corona case. France is also currently considering withdrawing its soldiers from the West African country.