At the end of May, the mandates for the participation of the German Armed Forces in Mali expire and the German Bundestag must decide whether and in what form the Bundeswehr will remain engaged in Mali. Currently, around 1,100 German soldiers are stationed in Mali, where Germany is participating militarily in the UN blue helmet mission MINUSMA and the EU training mission EUTM. Germany is also an important development partner of Mali and one of the largest financiers of development cooperation projects in the country.
The decision on the future of the German Armed Forces’ deployment comes at a difficult time for the West African country and the region: the political situation has recently further destabilised after two successive coups in 2020 and 2021. While ECOWAS reacted with tough sanctions and the suspension of Mali’s membership from the regional economic community, relations with France also deteriorated visibly. After the military junta, which is quite popular among parts of the Malian population, announced at the end of last year that it would not hold democratic elections until 2025/2026, Paris announced the complete withdrawal of its troops from Mali.
What is the current security and development situation on the ground? What conclusions can be drawn after nine years of German participation in MINUSMA and EUTM? How can and should future cooperation between Germany and Mali be shaped? And what role do the French troop withdrawal and the presence of Russian mercenaries of the Wagner Group in Mali play, not least against the background of the Ukraine war?
These and other questions are at the centre of the discussion to which the German Africa Foundation and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom cordially invite you under the patronage of Dr Christoph Hoffmann MP.
Programme:
Welcome Remarks:
Dr Christoph Hoffmann MP (FDP), Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development
Introduction:
Jo Holden, Director West Africa, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom
Discussion:
Dr Christoph Hoffmann MP (FDP), Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development
H.E. Oumou Sall ép. Seck, Ambassador of the Republic of Mali to Germany
Rebecca Schamber MP (SPD), Member of the Defence Committee and the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development
El-Ghassim Wane, Special Representative of the Secretary-general and Head of MINUSMA
Closing Remarks:
Jo Holden, Director West Africa, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom
Moderation:
Sabine Odhiambo, Secretary General, German Africa Foundation
If you would like to participate, kindly send an e-mail to pflueger@deutsche-afrika-stiftung.de.
