German parliament extends Mali deployment for last time

The German military deployment in support of the UN's peacekeeping mission in Mali is to end on May 31 next year, according to a mandate passed by parliament in Berlin on Friday, reported dpa.

The Bundestag, or parliament, passed a year-long extension to the mandate for the up to 1,400 troops deployed to the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). All the opposition parties voted against the motion.

Germany has for the past 10 years contributed troops to MINUSMA, which is described as the United Nations' most dangerous peace-keeping mission.

Mali's new military government has repeatedly obstructed German operations in the country, in particular by refusing flight clearance for reconnaissance drones.

The conservative opposition parties of the CDU/CSU grouping called for the deployment to be terminated by the end of this year at the latest. The three-way ruling coalition justified the later date by pointing to the Malian presidential elections set for February next year.

The withdrawal must be conducted in an orderly way and in coordination with Germany's international partners, lawmaker Agnieszka Brugger of the Greens said on behalf of the coalition.

CDU/CSU defence spokesman Florian Hahn on the other hand, said the troops' security and provisions could no longer be guaranteed and that there was no longer any question of fulfilling the original mandate.

With respect to the Malian elections, Hahn said: "All of you know that these elections will probably not be held."