Published 25 March 2023 at 14.55
Domestic. Sweden's mission in Mali ended with the raising of the flag. Soon, all parts of the Swedish association grant in the African country will be phased out.
Share the article
TwittraShare
During the week, the Swedish flag was raised both at Camp Estelle in Gao and at Camp Midgård in Bamako.
At the same time, the last air transports and final handovers of campers and equipment to the UN are being completed.
– I am very satisfied with the work that the unit has carried out. The decommissioning has been able to take place according to plan thanks to hard work and good cooperation. Now it is necessary to complete the task with the same accuracy and professionalism until all material and infrastructure is restored and all personnel are back in Sweden, says the contingent commander, lieutenant colonel Martin Johansson, on the defense website. the flag raising is the formal end of the Swedish military contribution in Mali. Brigadier General Stefan Andersson led the ceremony and received the Swedish flag to return it to Sweden.
In his speech, he thanked all Swedes who participated during the Swedish operation in Mali, which was originally planned to take place during 2– 3 years but which ended up lasting a full 9 years.
Sweden's ambassador to Mali attended the ceremony together with other guests, including the head of the MTF (Mobile Task Force), which Sweden was part of in the meantime in Gao, as well as representatives from Germany and Great Britain. Brigadier General Andersson especially thanked the international representatives for “very good cooperation” and handed over a commemorative shield from the Armed Forces.