The federal government wants to consolidate Germany's military presence in Niger.

Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) announced on Friday during a visit to the Nigerien capital Niamey that the Bundeswehr would take part in the new EU training mission "with significant forces" with "at least a double-digit number".

Lambrecht also said that Germany wanted to get involved bilaterally in the construction of a military hospital for the Nigerien armed forces.

It should also be open to civilians and thus contribute to stability in the region.

Lorenz Hemicker

Editor in Politics

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The Council of the European Union decided on Monday to set up a partnership mission to help Niger fight armed terrorist groups.

The EUMPM, with around 250 people, is intended to help improve the capabilities of the Nigerien armed forces in the long term.

The plan is to establish a center for training technicians and a new communications and command support battalion.

EUMPM should also support the training of specialists and coordinate closely with the ongoing EU mission EUCAP.

The mission is led by French Vice Admiral Hervé Bléjean.

Against the background of the withdrawal of many European contingents from Mali, Niger plays a central role in the strategic considerations of how Islamism, terrorism, state failure and, last but not least, the increasing influence of Russia in the Sahel can still be contained in the future.

During his visit to Niger in May, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) indicated that the Bundeswehr could continue to be involved in the country.

Conditions for staying in Mali

The visit to the Bundeswehr air transport base in Niger marked the end of Lambrecht's two-day journey through the Sahel region.

Before landing in Niamey, the Defense Minister had visited the German MINUSMA field camp in Gao in northern Mali on Thursday and, during talks in the capital Bamako with her Malian counterpart, discussed the conditions for continuing Germany's engagement as part of the UN mission until May 2024 formulated.

Up until the end, the Bundeswehr had 130 soldiers training the Nigerien special forces as part of the Gazelle training mission.

The order has now been fulfilled.

On Thursday, the commander of the operational command, Lieutenant General Bernd Schütt, released the task force from its duties at the end of the year during an appeal.

The transfer back from Tillia in western Nigeria should be completed by the end of March at the latest.

A single-digit number of German soldiers who remain as advisors at the special forces school in Tillia are exempt from being transferred back.

Lambrecht praised the time-limited mission as a "successful project" in which "very good experiences have been made".

The forces that have been trained can now train others.

The Gazelle mission began in 2018. In military circles, it is said that with a view to the duration and the desired effects, it could become a prototype for future Bundeswehr missions.

Large stabilization missions, according to delegation circles, would tend to lose in importance in the future.

Germany is currently involved with around 1,100 soldiers in the MINUSMA stabilization mission, which also includes the air transport base in Niamey.

The mandate runs until May 2023. The withdrawal is scheduled for 2024.