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Bundeswehr soldiers in Mali
Photo: Kay Nietfeld / dpa
Droughts, militant Islamists and a lack of jobs – all of this is causing problems for people in the Sahel. In view of the worsening crises in Mali and Burkina Faso in West Africa, Germany now wants to intensify cooperation with comparatively stable and reliable states in the Sahel region. "In Niger in particular, the German government will therefore expand its commitment," according to a strategy paper of the Federal Government, which was presented to the German Press Agency in Berlin on Friday. Mauritania, as the most stable country in the region and the only NATO partner in the Sahel, is another promising partner for closer cooperation. This is to prevent the crisis from destabilizing the whole of West Africa.
Within the framework of the European Union and together with other partners such as the USA and Great Britain, Germany will become more involved "where the support promises the prospect of positive change," according to the ten-page concept. Where the promotion of central state structures does not promise any positive effects due to human rights violations or authoritarian governments, more emphasis will be placed on cooperation with regional or municipal structures as well as with civil society and non-state actors. This is currently particularly true in Chad and Mali.
2.7 million people displaced in the Sahel
The measures were also aimed at preventing the collapse of the state in Burkina Faso and the spread of the crises to the neighbouring West African coastal countries on the Gulf of Guinea. At the beginning of 2023, according to the German government, around 2.7 million people were displaced in the Sahel – a large proportion of them as internally displaced persons. According to United Nations estimates, almost 18 million people are in need of humanitarian aid.
The German government also wants to "contribute to the establishment of an additional arc of stability around Mali and Burkina Faso," it continues. Within the framework of the European Union (EU) and international partners such as the USA or Great Britain, they will promote greater support for African initiatives to combat terrorism than before. Examples of starting points include the African Union's (AU) deliberations on setting up an African rapid reaction force, the planned standby force of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and plans by the so-called Accra Initiative, which includes Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin and Togo.
German soldiers are participating in the new EU Partnership Mission in Niger (EUMPM Niger), which is intended to contribute to the further development of the Nigerien armed forces in the fight against Islamist terrorists and armed gangs. The Bundestag had previously given the green light for this at the end of April. In addition, Germany's contribution to the civilian EU police mission EUCAP Sahel Niger is to be expanded.
The concept, entitled "Redefining and adapting the Federal Government's commitment to the Sahel", was forwarded on Wednesday by Ministers Annalena Baerbock (Federal Foreign Office, Greens), Boris Pistorius (Defence, SPD) and Svenja Schulze (Development, SPD) to the spokespersons of the parliamentary groups in the Bundestag Committees on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Development. The Bundestag does not have to discuss and vote on the new strategy.
Germany will continue to be "a reliable partner in the Sahel – especially with regard to states and actors who share our values and count on our support," Baerbock, Pistorius and Schulze write. In the short term, we must prevent the crises from spreading further and potentially destabilizing the whole of West Africa." However, solutions can only come from the affected countries themselves and must be supported by the international community. What is required is staying power and flexibility.
Bundeswehr to support presidential election in Mali
At the beginning of May, the Federal Cabinet decided to end the Bundeswehr's UN peacekeeping mission in Mali on 31 May 2024 after almost eleven years. The 1100 Bundeswehr soldiers stationed there are to be withdrawn by this date. Since mid-2013, the Bundeswehr has been involved in the UN mission MINUSMA to stabilise the country. Mali had partially fallen into the hands of Islamist terrorists in 2012. The Bundeswehr mission had recently been repeatedly hindered by the military junta ruling Mali, which is considered to be close to Russia.
The new strategy paper states that the German contingent in Mali should contribute "within the scope of the possibilities and taking into account the ongoing withdrawal" to support the transition process on the way to a democratically legitimized government. This also includes support for the presidential election planned for February 2024.
dop/dpa