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German parliament extends mandate of defense force in Mali

Xinhua, January 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Bundestag, the lower house of the German parliament, voted on Thursday with a large majority to extend the mission of German Bundeswehr, the national defense force, in Mali until 31 January, 2017.

The Bundestag also approved with a large majority of the deployment of up to 650 German soldiers in the dangerous north of the country. So far, the upper limit was 150 soldiers.

Stabilizing Mali remains the focus of German involvement in the Sahel region, said the Bundestag in a press release, adding that terrorism, crime and poverty can have a strong impact on Europe in the medium term, as the north of Mali is a key transit region for refugees on African continent.

After the terrorist attacks in Paris, Germany had promised France its fullest possible support in Mali as part of the international fight against terrorism.

According to mandate of the UN Mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA, the soldiers should enforce a ceasefire and help to stabilize the country. Endit