European Military Training Mission in Mali Officially Ends After 11 Years

The European military mission responsible for training the Malian army officially concluded its 11-year presence in the West African nation, the mission announced last Friday. This decision came a week after Brussels declared that it would not renew the mandate for the mission, which began in 2013 to assist Mali in countering jihadist attacks that have plagued the country since 2012.

The European Union Training Mission (EUTM) in Mali officially ended its operations, having trained over 20,000 Malian soldiers during its deployment, according to a statement released on the social media platform "X". The formal withdrawal ceremony was held at the mission's headquarters in the capital, Bamako.

The EU mission was initially deployed to Mali in 2013 with the goal of training the armed forces to combat jihadist insurgencies that have been a continual threat since 2012. The mission comprised about 700 soldiers from nearly 20 European countries. However, the number was significantly reduced due to escalating diplomatic tensions between Bamako and its Western partners.

On May 8, the European Commission announced that it would not extend the mission's mandate, citing "the evolution of the political and security situations" in Mali.

This development marks a significant shift in international military support in Mali, amidst ongoing challenges in the region.