Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of MINUSMA Mongi Hamdi received today German Defense Minister Dr. Ursula von der Leyen and her accompanying delegation, which included three members of the Defense Committee of the German Parliament.

MINUSMA Force Commander General Michael Lollesgaard participated in the meeting.

SRSG Hamdi briefed the visiting Minister and her delegation on the latest developments pertaining to the peace process and the work of the MINUSMA, in particular the work of the Force in support of the Malian stabilization efforts and protection of civilians. Discussions included Germany’s support to MINUSMA, as well as the need to ensure that peace dividends, including through quick impact projects,  materialize on the ground as soon as possible.   

Mr. Hamdi commended the work of the European Union Training Mission (EUTM), whose command will be ensured by Germany starting August 2015 in succession to Spain,  in providing capacity-building to the Malian Armed and Security Forces and supporting the security sector reform. He expressed MINUSMA’s full readiness to continue its fruitful cooperation with EUTM under the leadership of Germany in these priority areas of common interest.