Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner and Chief of Staff Robert Brieger today sent 58 soldiers off to Mali for an expected six months. In the person of Brigadier Christian Riener, Austria is assuming the leadership role in the West African country in the Sahel region for the second time since the second half of 2019.
With the assumption of command, the deployment of personnel will increase at the same time. There are currently 26 soldiers deployed, twelve of the previously deployed soldiers will remain in the area of operations – bringing the new contingent strength to 70. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner at the farewell ceremony for her soldiers: “When I look at the units you come from – the Hunting Command, the Military Police, Jäger Battalion 25 – I am very confident. You have years of good training behind you and, as Brigadier Riener mentioned in his speech, two months of intensive preparation specific to the operational area. This will enable you to cope with the tasks required of you in Africa in the best possible way and thus ensure greater security in the operational area. I wish you all the best and take good care of yourselves and your comrades!”
Austria has been participating in the training mission with staff and training personnel since August 2015. Previously, from March 2013, with military medical and staff personnel. The aim of the EU training mission is to contribute in solidarity to the EU’s efforts to enable the Malian armed forces to restore the full integrity of Malian territory. Currently, 26 nations are participating in the training mission with a troop strength of around 1,000 people. Spain is the largest contingent with 527 people. https://militaeraktuell.at/oebh-unterstuetzt-montenegro-im-alpinbereich/ The past Council of Ministers decision of November 3 allows the participation of Austrian forces until 31 December 2022, with Austria not only providing the “Mission Force Commander” but also important functions in the staff and at the mission headquarters in Bamako, in key training units such as the “Education & Training Task Force” in Kouilkoro and one of the three “Force Mobile Training & Mentoring Teams” in Sevare. The stabilization of the security situation in Mali through well-trained and lawfully operating Malian armed forces is intended to reduce the threat posed by terrorist groups in Mali. This also goes hand in hand with a reduction in human trafficking, irregular migration, drug and arms smuggling, to name just a few examples. These are all threats that endanger the security situation in Europe and therefore also for Austria.
