The German Bundestag has voted to extend the mandates for seven Bundeswehr missions – initially for a period of three months. On Tuesday (12 December) parliamentarians voted to extend the NATO-led missions in Afghanistan and the Mediterranean, the UN mission in Mali, support for the Peshmerga in northern Iraq and Germany’s involvement in the international alliance to fight IS terrorism. On Wednesday (13 December) the German parliament voted to extend the mandates for the UN missions in Darfur and South Sudan.

These votes ensure that German troops can continue to perform their duties during the process of forming a new government. At the end of the three-month period, the next German government can decide on the form the mandates should take in future.

Germany stands for reliability

When the government motion was first read in the German Bundestag on 21 November, Federal Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen asked the parliament to approve the extension of the mandates. Germany is known for its reliability in the field of security policy, she declared.

Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Sigmar Gabriel stressed that, even during the time when Germany has an acting government before the new government is formed, a clear signal must be sent that the German parliament is able and willing to act.

Bundeswehr much in demand

Bundeswehr troops are involved in 13 Bundestag-mandated missions. They are working with international partners to tackle terrorism, secure peace, and to train and advise the security forces in partner countries, explained the Federal Defence Minister in the German Bundestag. "To put it another way – our soldiers are helping create security. They are helping ensure stability," said the Federal Defence Minister. "We can be proud of these men and women and we are grateful for their service."

Ursula von der Leyen explained that the Bundeswehr needs certainty to allow it to plan, and that is why it is necessary to extend the mandates that are now coming up for renewal. The seven mandates in question are to be extended by three months initially. Essentially the contents of the mandate will remain unchanged, giving the members of the newly elected Bundestag time and an opportunity to become familiar with the subject matter and to get to grips with the detail involved.

The missions
- African Union/United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID)
- United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)
- NATO Resolute Support Mission to train, advise and support Afghan national defence and security forces in Afghanistan (Resolute Support Mission)
- NATO-led maritime security operation in the Mediterranean (Operation Sea Guardian),
- Preventing the terrorist activities of the terrorist organisation IS (COUNTER-DAESH)
- United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA)
- Training support in Iraq