The EU’s training mission in Mali (EUTM) has handed over command to a new general.
The ceremony took place in the Malian capital, Bamako, and was attended by a number of European ambassadors as well as Malian military brass.
The move follows the announcement that Mali has accepted one thousand UN peacekeepers from nearby Chad and comes as France announced a reduction in the deployment of troops in the country.
Christian Riener, the new EUTM commander said the mission is very critical and that it was a great honour for him to serve in this mission, adding that he had great respect for the Malian people and the Malian soldiers.
Hervé Bléjean, director general of the European Union Military Staff added they are working for the benefit of the G5 joint force, doing training, and also providing them with equipment.
Paris has already closed down three army bases in Northern Mali and by next year its presence in the country will be reduced to about 3,000 soldiers from 5,100.
Mali is the epicentre of a jihadist insurgency that began in the north of the country in 2012 and spread three years later to neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso.
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