The two missions are mutually supporting and should be seen together. The mission is taking place in this region because Mali is at the heart of the Sahel zone. It is a hinge that joins North, Central and West Africa, which means that it plays a key role in the stability and development of the entire Sahel region.

That is also very important for Germany, because instability in African states impacts directly on Europe.

Supporting statehood

In Mali, the troops are involved in the United Nations-led Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). Within the scope of this mandate, soldiers monitor compliance with the peace agreement signed in Algiers in 2015. The current UN mandate mentions support for statehood in Central Mali and cooperation and coordination on the part of all stakeholders for the first time. Civilians and United Nations staff in particular are to be protected. Their environment is to be made more secure to enable them to provide humanitarian aid.

Developing and strengthening the armed forces

The training provided by German soldiers is also helping develop and strengthen Mali’s armed forces. This is taking place within the scope of the EU-led European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM). At the same time the G5 ‘force conjointe’, a joint intervention force of the Sahel states (Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad), is to receive support with its mission.

Progress in the field of the security forces is, however, still limited. Mali’s armed forces are still only able to ensure security and stability in the country to a very limited extent.