Germany Resists Malian Junta Demand for Immediate Exit of Troops

Germany said on Sunday that Mali's junta request for a UN peacekeeping force to leave the country "without delay" was politically motivated and that Berlin still aimed for an orderly withdrawal of its forces by May 2024.

Mali's temporary military authorities made the request on Friday, citing a "crisis of confidence" between the Malian authorities and the decade-long UN mission known as MINUSMA, which has struggled to protect civilians and its troops.

The unexpected demand raised immediate fears of more chaos in Mali, which voted on Sunday in a referendum to change the constitution aimed at paving the way for elections and a return to civilian rule.

Berlin has deployed about 1,000 troops to Mali, most of them near the northern town of Gao where their main task is to collect reconnaissance for the 13,000-strong MINUSMA.

The withdrawal request marks a major turning point for the West African country, which has struggled to stamp out an Islamist insurgency that took root in the aftermath of a 2012 uprising.

MINUSMA was published by the United Nations Security Council in 2013 to support foreign and domestic efforts to restore stability.

The junta burned bridges with traditional Western allies and turned to Russia for help in bolstering its military capabilities. Western governments are concerned about the presence of the private Russian military contractor Wagner.

Germany said late last year that it would start withdrawing its forces from Mali in the middle of next year after a decade-long mission, with the withdrawal to be completed by May 2024.