German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius recently visited the German contingent of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Gao, Mali. The visit comes ahead of Germany’s planned withdrawal from the mission, which has been announced for May 2024. Pistorius was accompanied by Development Minister Svenja Schulze.
Germany has several hundred soldiers among the 12,000 or so deployed by the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MINUSTAH) in the country, which is plagued by the spread of jihadism and violence of all kinds. The UN mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA, is the largest Western contribution.
During his visit, Pistorius stressed the importance of the German contingent, especially for reconnaissance missions. However, he acknowledged that the commitment has “not been possible in practice for some months.” Pistorius did not elaborate on the reasons behind the lack of progress.
The junta that took power by force in 2020 broke the alliance with France and its European partners against the jihadists and turned militarily and politically to Russia. They have enlisted the help of hundreds of men described, depending on the source, as instructors from the Russian army or mercenaries from Wagner, a Russian private security group whose actions have been criticized.
The junta has also imposed restrictions on the operations of the UN Mission in Mali. The UN has expressed concern about the safety of peacekeepers’ operations after the departure of the French, but also of other contingents. Several countries have decided to stop or suspend their participation in UNMIS in recent months.
Pistorius emphasized that the German commitment has not failed, but rather the conditions have made it difficult. He also expressed a desire to continue aid efforts in Mali, stating that development cooperation will continue even after the military engagement ends.
Schulze echoed Pistorius’ sentiments, emphasizing the importance of German civilian aid, which has been effective since independence. She stated that the message they wanted to send was that even if the military engagement ends, development cooperation continues. She cited access to water or agriculture as examples of projects that could be piloted in Gao, even from Bamako.
Germany has been involved in the MINUSMA mission in Mali since 2013. Its contribution has been significant, with the country providing both military and civilian support. The German military contingent in Mali is primarily responsible for reconnaissance and surveillance, and has been involved in several operations against terrorist groups.
However, the political situation in Mali has deteriorated significantly in recent years. The coup in 2020 led to widespread instability, with the junta that took power imposing restrictions on the operations of the UN mission. This has made it difficult for peacekeepers to carry out their duties, and has led to several countries withdrawing or suspending their participation in the mission.
What is the MINUSMA ?
MINUSMA, which stands for United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, is a peacekeeping mission established by the United Nations Security Council in 2013 to support political processes and stability in Mali. The country has been plagued by a complex conflict involving Islamist extremist groups, separatist movements, and government forces.
The mission’s mandate includes providing security for the Malian population, supporting the implementation of a peace agreement between the government and various armed groups, and assisting with political processes and human rights monitoring. MINUSMA has also played a critical role in supporting humanitarian efforts and in addressing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region.
The mission is one of the UN’s most dangerous and complex operations, with over 200 peacekeepers killed since its inception. The security situation in Mali remains fragile, with jihadist groups continuing to carry out attacks and government forces accused of human rights violations.
Image Credit: Bundeswehr
