German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on her country’s lawmakers to rethink restrictive arms export policies towards Africa, arguing the restrictions are not in Germany’s best interest. According to German media, the Chancellor outlined her vision for an expanded German presence in the broader Sahel region, beyond Mali, where Germany has deployed troops since 2013. The German army has contributed about 1,100 troops to the 15,000-strong UN Mali peacekeeping mission, known as MINUSMA. German troops also advise Mali’s defense ministry and senior military commanders. Germany cannot continue to train and encourage African forces fighting terrorists but not arm them, she argued, urging the lawmakers to reconsider their restrictive arms export stance.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 28, 2019 17:48 UTC