EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced the termination of the EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM), which was designed to train units of the Malian armed forces and provide advisory support.
He confirmed that the mission concluded and all personnel operating under the EU flag had departed from Mali.
“The EU Training Mission in Mali ended yesterday. All associated personnel have left the country,” Borrell stated on X this Sunday.
He also noted that European military instructors had trained more than 20,000 Malian soldiers to aid in counter-terrorism efforts.
While the mission has ended, Borrell emphasized that the EU remains willing to collaborate with partners who are interested in working with the union.
According to a report by El Pais in late March, EU nations were unable to agree on extending the training mission, effectively ending the EU’s military involvement in this key area.
On 8 May, the European Commission announced that it would not renew the mission’s mandate due to the “evolving political and security situation” in the country.
Mali has been under military rule following successive coups in 2020 and 2021, with the army promising to transfer power through elections in February. However, the military postponed the elections indefinitely, citing the unstable security situation exacerbated by extremist attacks.
