The EU stops the practical training of security forces in West African Mali, where the Bundeswehr is also represented. There are insufficient guarantees from the Malian interim government that there will be no interference from the Russian mercenary company Wagner, explained EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell after the meeting of EU foreign ministers. Wagner is responsible for events in which dozens of people have recently been killed.
According to Borrell, however, the EU will remain present in the country to advise security forces strategically and to teach them the rules of warfare. “Soldiers need to know what is allowed and what is not allowed,” he said of the future focus of the EUTM training operation.
France and several partners had already announced in February that they were ending their military anti-terrorist operation in Mali – also because the current interim government is working with Russian mercenaries. Since then, there has also been intensive discussion in the EU as to how to proceed with the EUTM training mission for the country’s armed forces and national guard. At least 300 Bundeswehr soldiers were also involved in it.
In May of last year, the military in Mali, with its approximately 20 million inhabitants, overthrew the transitional government, which was supposed to be in office until the elections on February 27, 2022. Putschist leader Assimi Goïta had himself proclaimed the new interim president. From the point of view of critics, he has been delaying the necessary preparations for the presidential and parliamentary elections since then. EU chief diplomat Borrell said the EU hoped an agreement could be reached on elections.
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is visiting the West African crisis-hit countries of Mali and Niger this Tuesday. According to a spokesman for the Federal Foreign Office, the Green politician is planning to hold talks with interim President Goïta and Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop in Mali’s capital, Bamako. Baerbock also wants to meet with representatives of the EU training mission EUTM and the UN stabilization mission Minusma. Baerbock plans to fly to neighboring Niger on Wednesday.