Germany Suspends Military Mission in Mali After Troops Blocked

Germans soldiers on the route from Gao to Gossi, Mali.

Photographer: Seyllou/AFP/Getty Images

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Germany’s military suspended all reconnaissance and transport operations in Mali after a planned personnel rotation was blocked.

The decision was taken after Malian authorities prevented a flight carrying 110 German soldiers deployed with a United Nations peacekeeping mission from leaving the country, a defense ministry spokesman Arne Collatz told reporters Friday. Another 140 personnel, who were supposed to replace French troops that are in the process of withdrawing, couldn’t travel to the West African nation, he said.