Germany to expand Bundeswehr's Mali mission
October 15, 2015
Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Thursday that there would be a military proposal this week to participate in the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission MINUSMA, in which only nine German soldiers are currently participating.
Steinmeier said Germany had a "particular interest in Mali in terms of security policy," but failed to say exactly how many additional soldiers would be sent there.
Until now, a further 200 Bundeswehr troops are involved in the EU-led training mission in the comparatively safe south. The use of UN peacekeepers in northern Mali is much more dangerous, however. Fifty-six peacekeepers were killed there in the first six months of this year, alone.
The northern desert area was thrown into chaos during a coup in 2012 and seized by Islamists and Tuareg rebels. The area was largely freed again in January 2013 following the intervention of France.
German newspaper the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" reported on Thursday that the use of reconnaissance drones would also be considered. Germany does not have combat drones.
ksb/msh (AFP, dpa)