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Netherlands Will Reduce Role in Malian Peace Mission

by Reuters

   AMSTERDAM/BERLIN --

   The Dutch government said Friday that it would continue its
   peacekeeping mission in Mali in 2017 but would withdraw its helicopter
   contingent at the start of the year, leaving the United Nations
   struggling to find replacement aircraft.

   Canada was mentioned as a potential supplier of the helicopters after
   the United Nations first announced Dutch officials' intention to remove
   their helicopter forces in July. But Ottawa has not made a firm
   commitment.

   Germany, which is counting on the helicopter force to protect the 570
   soldiers it has stationed in Mali, is concerned it may have to fill the
   gap, requiring the deployment of up to 300 more troops to the African
   country.

   U.N. peacekeepers are deployed across northern Mali to try to stabilize
   the vast region, occupied by separatist Tuareg rebels and
   al-Qaida-linked Islamist militants in 2012 before France intervened in
   2013.

   The Dutch government said its mission in Mali would consist of 290
   soldiers, down from 400, mostly focused on analysis and policing.

   The Dutch military has been operating Apache attack helicopters to
   protect the peacekeepers, plus transport helicopters to evacuate sick
   or wounded soldiers.

   Military sources say time is running short to find a country to supply
   replacement helicopters, because it takes months to prepare such a
   mission.

   Merkel to visit

   German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to visit German troops in northern
   Mali on Sunday during a visit to Africa aimed at promoting economic
   development and curbing migration.

   U.N. peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous told the U.N. Security Council
   about the Dutch decision on Thursday and said no other country had
   stepped up to supply replacement aircraft despite "extensive efforts"
   by U.N. officials.

   German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen told reporters last week:
   "The helicopters are existentially important for the protection of our
   soldiers and for the effectiveness of the mission, meaning how far the
   soldiers can range away from the base in Gao."

   Mali's government has not had a military presence in the restive
   northern region of Kidal since clashes between the army and Tuareg
   rebels killed 50 soldiers there in 2014, leaving a heavy security
   burden on U.N. troops.

   Mali has become the deadliest place to serve for U.N. peacekeepers. The
   United Nations says more than 100 peacekeepers have been killed since
   the U.N. mission, MINUSMA, deployed in July 2013. The Security Council
   voted in June to increase the contingent by 2,500 troops, taking the
   total number of uniformed personnel to more than 15,000.