Status: 08/03/2022 12:12 p.m
For weeks, the military junta in Mali has been issuing new restrictions against the Bundeswehr. The latest: The transporter A400M is no longer allowed to fly over the country. Bamako apparently wants to get rid of the UN troops, observers say.
The operating conditions for the German soldiers in Mali continue to deteriorate. The government of the West African country has withdrawn the overflight permit for the A400M military transporter. This was announced by the Bundeswehr Operations Command in a briefing to the representatives of the Bundestag’s Defense Committee.
Without an overflight permit, a complete rescue chain for the German MINUSMA contingent over Niger cannot be guaranteed. Backgrounds for the withdrawal are not known, it said.
More and more restrictions by Junta
The Bundeswehr is also affected by yesterday’s instruction from the Malian military government that foreign soldiers are forbidden from staying at part of the airport in the capital Bamako. There is also a UN base there. All soldiers – including 60 from the Bundeswehr – must therefore leave the premises of the company “Sahel Aviation Services” within 72 hours.
The announcement by the junta two weeks ago that it would initially prohibit personnel changes in MINUSMA contingents also caused resentment. The Bundeswehr then declared that the so-called personnel rotation – i.e. the change of personnel in MINUSMA contingents – would therefore remain suspended. Normally, the contingent changes after four to six months on average. A total of up to 1,400 German soldiers are involved in the operation, which has been running since 2013. The next rotation is scheduled for September or October.
“Pinpricks” against Germany
“After the Malian putschist government already complimented the French out of the country, the number of pinpricks against us has increased significantly,” said the defense policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, Alexander Müller. “It would be naïve to believe that we are dealing with coincidences or misunderstandings here.”
Bundeswehr operation before the end?
In view of the tensions with the military junta, further Bundeswehr participation in the UN mission MINUSMA, which is intended to stabilize the country, is becoming increasingly questionable. The Ministry of Defense stated: “The security of our soldiers has the highest priority.” As a prerequisite for further German involvement, “the situation must be clarified immediately”.
The Bundestag only extended German participation in MINUSMA in May. However, the new mandate also provides for the possibility of an early termination if the safety of the Bundeswehr soldiers is in question.
Military government loyal to Moscow
Mali, with around 20 million inhabitants, has experienced three military coups since 2012 and is considered to be extremely unstable politically. Since the most recent coup in May 2021, the country has been led by an interim military government that maintains close ties with Russia. So Russian mercenaries of the Wagner group were hired.