Questions and answers on the EUTM Mali
The soldiers of the Federal Armed Forces are to continue a limited form of their training mission EUTM (European Union Training Mission) Mali in the Sahel with a focus on Niger.
The Federal Cabinet has decided to extend the mandate until 31 May 2023. The German Bundestag has yet to give its approval. The most important questions and answers about the deployment.
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EUTM is a central element of European involvement in the Sahel zone
Photo: picture alliance/dpa/Kay Nietfeld
What is the aim of the EUTM?
The political stabilisation of Mali and the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region are vitally significant for the security of the international community and for Germany.
EUTM is a key element of the international involvement. The training support provided by the soldiers is intended to enable the armed forces of the G5-Sahel states (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Chad) to ensure security autonomously in future.
The mandate is to be continued until 31 May 2023. Up to 300 soldiers of the Federal Armed Forces can be deployed.
Which temporary restrictions are in place when executing the mandate?
Due to the current political situation, the EU decided on 5 April 2022 to discontinue the training and tactical consultancy. There is currently a lack of progress in the transition (to civilian, peaceful conditions), and human rights are being violated. In addition, there are no guarantees that EU-trained Malian security forces are not being deployed on the ground with Russian forces.
The training deployment of special forces, GAZELLE, in Niger is unaffected by this. This will be continued unchanged until December 2022 and then ended.
Why is the deployment being extended?
The current security situation in Mali and other parts of the Sahel region has deteriorated, despite the involvement of the international community. The threat of terrorism and organised crime not only affects Mali but threatens to destabilise the entire Sahel region. This means that the Federal Armed Forces’ deployment remains necessary in order to support stability and peace in the Sahel region in the long term.
What is the legal basis for the deployment of troops?
The deployment of German armed forces within the EUTM is based on the request by the governments of the Sahel region to the European Union (EU) and Germany, the resolutions of the EU Council 2013/34/GASP of 17 January 2013 and on conclusions in connection with the resolution of the United Nations (UN) Security Council 2071 (2012) and follow-up resolutions.
The German armed forces are acting within and according to the rules of a system of mutual collective security according to Article 24 paragraph 2 of the Basic Law.
Information by the Federal Armed Forces on the deployment (in German).