End Friday of the two-day visit to Mali of the German Minister of Defense. Boris Pistorius was notably received by the president of the transition, Colonel Assimi Goïta. Despite the announced withdrawal of German troops from the Sahel, Berlin intends to stay in the region so as not to leave the ground empty.
With our correspondent in the region, Serge Daniel
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius began his visit by northern Mali to visit his country’s troops engaged in the UN mission, Minusma. The Berlin blue helmets should leave Mali by May 2024. But this date will not mark the end of cooperation between the two countries.
According to German diplomatic sources, the door to bilateral military relations will remain open, in particular for the training of the Malian army. After being received by the president of the transition, Colonel Assimi Goïta, the German minister declared to the press that the German military advisers present in Bamako in the structures of the Malian State will remain there.
Bilateral development cooperation will also continue. To make it clear, Boris Pistorius was accompanied by his German counterpart from the Ministry of Development. Mali and Germany have for many years maintained fruitful civil cooperation in several areas. It will continue and the projects on the ground could, according to the German delegation, be piloted from Gao in the north and even from Bamako.