Germany readies for Mali mission
March 19, 2013
During the visit, De Maiziere on Monday stressed that the Malian government would have to take on the mantle for maintaining security in the West African nation.
"There will only be a good development of the situation, in a lasting way, if the Malian military forces themselves ensure security," said de Maiziere, after a meeting with Malian President Dioncounda Traore.
However, the minister also stressed that the country could count on support from the international community in its efforts to re-establish stability. As part of its contribution, Germany is to contribute up to 330 to the 550-strong European Union Training Mission to support the Malian army. The undertaking would not be easy, de Maiziere warned.
"This is a huge task, that requires a lot of staying power," he said. De Maiziere added that, although the mission had an initial mandate of 15 months, Germany would support Mali for "as long as necessary."
De Maiziere met with Traore in the capital Bamako, before travelling on to Koulikoro, about 60 kilometers to the northeast, where German troops are already stationed. Soldiers taking part in the training mission, which is expected to involve some 2,500 Malian troops, will also be based there.
Field hospital planned
Bundeswehr soldiers in Koulikoro are set to begin work setting up a field hospital at the base this weekend. German paramedics and doctors who will work there are scheduled to be among the first Bundeswehr personnel to arrive in Mali.
Some 4,000 French troops have been fighting Islamist militants who swept across the north of the country early last year. The Islamists had fought alongside separatist Tuareg rebels in the region, but eventually seized control of the north from them.
Soldiers from West Africa's regional bloc ECOWAS have been fighting alongside the French. Also playing a prominent role is Chad, which is not a member of the regional organization but which has some of the best-trained desert forces in Africa.
The training mission is set to begin on April 2. A further 100 German troops are being sent to help provide logistical and administrative support for projects such as water and energy supply, while some 150 additional Bundeswehr soldiers will provide logistical back up to the French deployment.
rc/lw (AFP, dpa)