After eleven years, EU military training mission departs Mali

Following the bloc’s failure to renew its mandate in early May, the European Union’s military training mission in Mali announced on Friday that it had formally concluded its 11-year stay in the jihadist-infested nation.

In order to assist and equip the West African nation’s armed forces in the face of the rise in jihadism since 2012, the 27-member bloc sent the European Union Training Mission (EUTM) to in 2013.

Up to 700 soldiers from almost 20 European counties had participated in the mission; but, with Bamako and its allies experiencing political difficulties, the number of soldiers drastically decreased.

The EU made the decision not to extend the mission’s mandate at the beginning of May due to “developments in the political and security situation” in the country, according to the European Commission.

Mali’s military seized power in a 2020 coup, breaking off its anti-jihadist alliance with France and European partners while turning politically and militarily towards Russia.

The training mission’s formal departure ceremony took place on Friday at its headquarters in the capital Bamako, EUTM said.

Two mission members have died since 2013, including a Portuguese soldier killed during a 2017 attack on a camp in Bamako, and a Spanish soldier who died in 2018 near the central town of Sevare, according to the EUTM.

The mission says it has trained 20,000 Malian soldiers during its 11-year presence, according to a post on X, formerly Twitter.