More soldiers do not necessarily mean more safety – the causes of the crisis remain unresolved – Northern Mali needs jobs, development and a political will for peace

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) criticizes the planned extension of the Bundeswehr mission in Mali as a case of "window dressing". "More German soldiers do not necessarily mean more safety. Northern Mali needs more political initiatives, jobs and a sustainable development to secure peace," said the STP's Africa-consultant, Ulrich Delius, in Göttingen on Wednesday. Despite the presence of 2,300 French soldiers and 5,539 UN MINUSMA blue helmets, the Islamist terrorists continue to carry out attacks in the north of the country. "Attempts towards sustainable peace in northern Mali need more initiative than just sending troops."

The German federal cabinet is now debating whether the Bundeswehr mission in Mali should be expanded from 180 to 250 soldiers. In future, the soldiers will not only help to train the Malian army, but could also serve to guard military camps. The actual quota is not even reached. There are only about 100 German soldiers operating in Mali.

"The relationship between the army and the Government of Mali, the MINUSMA, the French army and the UN Special Envoy for Mali, Bert Koenders, are not in order," said Delius. "There are not enough constructive efforts. There is not much sense in sending more soldiers to the West African country as long as these problems are not resolved." About 422,000 people from northern Mali are still on the run due to the problematic safety situation.

One of the biggest problems is the Malian government's lack of political will to come to terms with the Tuareg movement which demands more self-determination for the regions in northern Mali. However, the government in Bamako is only prepared to consider a decentralization of the country. Last weekend, a delegation of the Security Council visited the region and demanded that peace talks with the Tuareg should be held soon.

According to the STP, the still existing threat of Islamist terrorism cannot be contained without solving the Tuareg conflict. The impoverished regions in northern Mali are in desperate need of more development and working opportunities. "If more of the unemployed young people had a job, this would keep Islamist extremism at bay, because less people would be prepared to fight," said Delius. Some of the huge expenses for the military intervention – 650 million Euros for France alone – should rather be used to create new jobs for the Tuareg, the Fulani and the Arabic people.