40 German soldiers in Mali have arrived

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Mali

40 German soldiers in Mali have arrived

The use of the armed forces in the North of the West African country is controversial. The area is considered to be highly uncertain. Only a few days previously, three soldiers close to the future German garrison killed.

Soldiers in a training camp, the Malian security forces (file picture)

The first German soldiers in the Malian rebel stronghold city Gao landed. As a spokesman of the operational headquarters was informed, you are now on the base of the armed forces, in the Camp of the Castor, is misplaced. In the framework of the UN Mission MINUSMA should the German armed forces in a peace agreement between the government and rebel groups.

Dangerous Terrain

The use is
because of the Anschlagsgefahr by Islamists as dangerous. Only last Thursday, three Malian soldiers in the North of the country have been killed. Three others were seriously injured when their vehicle approximately 30 kilometers West of the city of Gao on an improvised explosive trap came. Who the attack is responsible, is not yet clear.

In the past three years, armed conflicts in Mali, approximately 70 blue helmet soldiers are killed. On the road from Gao to Bamako, it always comes back to attacks. “It is a persistently unsafe area, several terrorist organization are active there,” said the mayor of Gao, Sadou, Abdoulaye Diallo.

The new base of the army: Camp Castor in Gao, until now, was of Dutch soldiers inhabited

The editorial recommends

The German army sends first of several Hundred soldiers in the insecure North of Mali. The decided the Federal Cabinet. Also the training mission for the Peschmerga in Northern Iraq will be extended. (06.01.2016)

Islamist militias are trying to advance the peace process in Mali to torpedo. For the protection of the civilian population, Germany will up to 650 soldiers in the country. There’s a potentially explosive situation. (05.01.2016)

It is, at least, the military Commissioner, Hans Peter Bartels, and calls for good equipment. On Wednesday decides the Cabinet about the participation of the German armed forces to the UN peacekeeping mission in Northern Mali. (03.01.2016)

Even Regierungspolitiker concede that the use for the armed forces could be dangerous: The Federal government will probably already next week the additional deployment of 500 soldiers to Mali to decide. (31.12.2015)

Education and training

The Bundestag had recently the
Posting of up to 650 soldiers to Mali decided. With drones and Spähfahrzeugen want you there mainly to Aufklärungsaufgaben. So far was the Mandatsobergrenze at 150 soldiers. After the Islamist terrorist attacks in Paris, it was the German government France relief on a military plane in Mali agreed. In the framework of an EU Mission, the German armed forces also in the South of the country with the training of Malian security forces in charge.

Almost four years ago was to the North of the country temporarily in the hands of Islamist fighters fallen. French armed forces started in early 2013 as an Offensive against the Islamists and rebels in the North of the country. Their advance toward the South was stopped, the security situation remained tense.

nin/kle (dpa, afp)