Mali
German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen called for calm on Sunday during her visit to Gao, Mali as investigations unfold on a German helicopter accident.
The two crew members died after the German Military helicopter assigned to the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali crashed on Wednesday.
The flight boxes were recovered and will be taken to Germany for data recovery work to begin.
“The investigation has to be carried out systematically and it would be wrong to exert pressure on the experts and with respect to the pilots and the security of the personnel. We know from other incidents involving helicopters that especially with a close cooperation with the experts the right moment can be found to slowly and safely resume flight operation,” German Defence minister, Ursula Von Der Leyen said.
Von der Leyen refuted claims the crash was a result of the pilot’s inexperience. She described the Mali peacekeeping mission as one of the most important but also the most dangerous deployments of the United Nations.
Some 800 German soldiers are stationed in Mali.
01:49
Russia says it plans to boost economic and military cooperation with Africa
01:11
ECOWAS at 50: Celebrating unity as the region fragments
02:01
Mali's Diarra Sidiki wins 2025 Tour du Togo
Go to video
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to have access to the Atlantic ocean
Go to video
Jihadi activities increase sevenfold in Kayes region, near east of Senegal
Go to video
French diplomats given 48-hour notice to leave Algeria