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After withdrawal of French troops: Bundeswehr mission in Mali could become more dangerous

2022-04-12T19:58:50.174Z


France wants to end its anti-terrorist operation in Mali. According to an internal security analysis of the Bundeswehr, the freedom of movement of Islamist groups will increase significantly in this case - and pose a danger to German soldiers on site.


Enlarge image

Bundeswehr soldiers in Camp Castor in Gao in Mali on April 12, 2022: Visit of the German Foreign Minister

Photo: Kay Nietfeld / dpa

The Bundeswehr mission for the UN mission "Minusma" in northern Mali will become significantly more dangerous in the coming months.

According to SPIEGEL information, the Bundeswehr analysts have warned internally that the announced withdrawal of the French anti-terrorist units will "almost certainly lead to a further deterioration in the security situation in the short term."

This emerges from a current threat analysis by the "Military Intelligence" (MilNw) for the Ministry of Defence.

According to the confidential paper, the withdrawal of the French forces from the "Barkhane" mission will significantly increase the freedom of movement of the various terrorist groups in northern Mali.

The French are "the only forces in the area operating offensively against the jihadists and maintaining a high level of persecution pressure" and have so far been able to effectively contain the terrorist groups through their "escalation dominance".

The Malian army will not be able to do this even with the support of the Russians.

A few weeks ago, France announced that it would end the Barkhane anti-terrorist mission and withdraw from Mali.

Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) is currently negotiating with Paris whether the Bundeswehr can still use French attack helicopters, which are to be stationed in neighboring Niger, in an emergency.

So far, the French had provided the robust protection of the UN camp in Gao.

The Bundeswehr only has NH90 rescue helicopters in use there.

However, the Bundeswehr analysts expressly warn that the troops will continue to rely on the protection of the French after the withdrawal.

Even if Paris agrees to help for possible attacks on the camp in Gao, for example, "there is still a lack of ground forces that can reinforce the effect" that keep the terrorist groups in check and push them back day after day.

Consequently, according to the gloomy prognosis, the "reducing pressure to be pursued" would very quickly lead to "an increased threat" to the Bundeswehr.

Just last week, Defense Minister Lambrecht paid a visit to Mali and the Bundeswehr, this Tuesday Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) was with the troops in Goa.

When asked about the future of the German operation as part of the Minusma blue helmet mission, she said in Goa that she had come to get an overview of how "this mission can be managed in the future if the French leave".

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2022-04-12

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