Einsatz der Bundeswehr in Mali
Konteradmiral Rainer Brinkmann (center) visited the German Troops in Mali/ April 2013. (Image courtesy of die Bundeswehr/Daniel Gärtner)
Since the start of the internal crisis in Mali in 2012, the European Union has been engaged to de-escalate the intra-conflicts in that region. However it was in January 2013 that with the request from the government of Mali that the next crucial step was implemented by French Intervention as a part of Combat Operation to fight with the violent extremists and to liberate the northern parts of Mali.
Additionally, in February 2013 the European Union authorized the European Military Training Mission in that region. Nevertheless the continuation of conflict required a larger Military deployment for protecting the local people and the region from the ongoing violence and the spread of extremists.
With the approval of new mandate from the German Parliament in February 2013 die Bundeswehr was authorized to step in the region with two Operational Tasks:
- To commence its deployment in support of European Training Mission in Mali (EUTM).
- And to take part in the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA), at the request of UN Security Council.
In European Training Mission in Mali (EUTM)
With 180 Offiziere and Military experts, die Bundeswehr is supporting the European Union Training Mission which includes:
- Advising Malian Armed-Forces at the higher level command
- Training the Malian Soldiers
- Training the Army Engineers
- Providing Medical Support and Supply
In the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA)
At the present time, there are 150 Bundeswehr Soldiers in AFISMA operation:
- To give Air Support
- And to provide Aerial refueling
Spezial-Airbus Airbus A310 MRTT in Mali Operation ( Image courtery of German Army/Bicker)
Simultaneously Germany has been engaged in Humanitarian Relief Operation in the region as the main donor to:
- The UN Refugees Programme
- The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC)
- The World Food Programme(WFP)
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
- And other German NGOs who are working in Mali.
Added to these organizations, Deutschland has already allocated 13.65 million euros to Mali for helping the local people on the humanitarian basis since the end of 2011.
Additionally in the Donors Conference in January 2013, Germany contributed 20. million US dollars to the African Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA). Along with that, the Foreign Office has openly announced that added to all the financial aid die Bundeswehr’s Operation in supporting AFISMA is estimated 3. million US dollars per month for Germany.
On the Operational front, although the deployment of die Bundeswehr in Mali was approved by the German Parliament in February 2013 for a period of one year (February 2013-February 2014). Aber yet die Bundeswehr’s presence was highly anticipated by the UN, EU, from long earlier and had been exceptionally demanded by the heads of many African States when the crisis in the region became out of control in 2012.
German Armed-Forces in Mali 2013 ( Image courtesy of die Bundeswehr)
As in Operation in Kosovo, Afghanistan and in many other conflicts zones, die Bundeswehr has been not only a unique components of UN Peacekeeping Forces, the EU Military deployments, the NATO Operations, and ISAF Missions, but prominently the main crucial acting partner in solving most International conflicts and the various regional crisis. A role highly imperative that needs to be recognized more, acknowledge in the International setting……. und yet to be noch weiter acceded and celebrated with honour and the highest esteem at home……….in Deutschland.
By Catherine Stella Schmidt
Europe in the World 