German Soldiers Bid Mali Adieu and Head Home
German troops are making their way back home after wrapping up their ten-year stint in Mali. According to the mission command, the troops are currently in Dakar, Senegal, prepping for their flight back to Germany. They're set to touch down at Wunstorf airbase near Hanover on Friday, and a farewell rally is lined up with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius present.
Colonel Heiko Bohnsack, the last Minusma German contingent commander, found praise for this operation under challenging circumstances, citing it as an "outstanding team effort."
Since its inception, approximately 27,500 Bundeswehr soldiers have served with Minusma in Mali. Regrettably, three soldiers paid the ultimate price during the mission.
Mali has been a battleground for Islamist extremist insurgency since 2012 in its northern regions, expanding to neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso later. Minusma became tasked with pacifying the country and safeguarding the local population in 2013.
Cooperation between Mali and the mission prior to its military junta power grab in 2020 was on a steady decline. The junta demanded an end to UN operations in mid-June, sparking the troops' departure.
Additional Insights:
Though not mentioned in the sources provided, the broader context suggests that various Western military forces like France and the United States have also been withdrawing troops from the Sahel region due to tensions stemming from anti-Western sentiment, military coups, and a desire to assert sovereignty and limit foreign involvement.
The specific terms of Germany's departure from Mali remain unclear. To find up-to-date and accurate information regarding this issue, official statements from German military or diplomatic channels should be sought.
