German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht disclosed on Sunday that she was “very skeptical” that the country could maintain its troops in Mali amidst growing tension between the country and its international partners.
It was gathered that Germany has some 1,200 troops deployed in Mali as part of a 9-year-old international counter-terrorism and peacekeeping mission in the Sahel state.
However, tensions have escalated between Bamako and its partners after the junta government failed to organize an election following two military coups, and the arrival of private military contractors of the Russian Wagner Group.
“I do not have the impression that we are welcome any longer,” Lambrecht said in an interview with ZDF broadcaster.
European nations have reported restrictions on their counter-terrorism operations by the junta which in January also insisted on the immediate withdrawal of Danish forces.
Last week Monday, Mali gave the French ambassador 72 hours to leave the country after what it called “hostile and outrageous” comments by former colonial power France about its transitional government.
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