West Africa-travel: Merkel thanked soldiers for intervention in Mali

Chancellor Angela Merkel has thanked the Mali soldiers stationed. At the same time, she called for a political solution to the conflicts in the Region. International assistance was more necessary.

For the first Time, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has visited the soldiers in North Mali's Gao. She thanked them for their commitment, which is considered the most dangerous of the German armed forces. About 850 Bundeswehr soldiers are stationed in the framework of the UN-Mission Minusma in Gao, in order to ensure a stabilization of the Islamist terrorism that threatened the country.

The Mission is difficult and the working environment, "specifically," said Merkel. The use of call of the soldiers significant adjustment of assets and considerable adaptation will.

Since 2013, the Bundeswehr is participating in the UN Mission Minusma.

Merkel said there was "light and shadow" at the UN-Mission in a Region in which the security situation is deteriorating constantly. The soldiers were with their awareness-raising activities have a significant contribution to Minusma. In the case of the renewal of the mandate you will work in the most efficient way to continue the Mission.

By the Malian government wishes the Federal government, that you could improve the security situation in the country and the ceasefire should be implemented, said Angela Merkel. However, it is not difficult to achieve this with only military means, if there is sufficient political support. The country was in urgent need of to continue to such international assistance.