German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht announced Thursday, December 15 the active participation of Berlin in the new mission of the European Union for the training of local forces in Niger. Support promised during her tour in the Sahel, where she set conditions for maintaining within the Minusma until departure in 2024: this maintenance would be conditional on cooperation from Mali for the use of German drones to secure convoys and the holding of elections in 2024.
With our correspondent in Berlin, Pascal Thibault
” We let’s not abandon the sahel ”: German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht announced during a visit to Niger that her country will remain present in the region after the end of Berlin’s commitment within the Minusma in Mali, by spring 2024. 1,100 soldiers, the largest contingent of the Bundeswehr, are currently taking part.
The minister, who traveled to Mali and Niger at the end of the week, announced that Berlin will support ” substantial » the new training mission, launched a few days ago by the European Union for the benefit of the Nigerien forces. A few dozen German soldiers could support it out of the 250 planned.
The German army (Bundeswehr) already has an air transport base in Niamey. German participation within the Gazelle mission for the training of Nigerien special forces, considered a success, is coming to an end these days. The new mission will therefore take over.
Christine Lambrecht also announced, within the framework of bilateral cooperation, German aid for the construction of a military hospital which will also be open to civilians.
► Read also : A German hostage held in the Sahel for more than four years finally freed