German defence minister 'very sceptical' about Mali mission

FILE PHOTO: German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht speaks to troops as she visits Rukla military base, Lithuania December 19, 2021. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said on Sunday she was "very sceptical" that the country could maintain its troops in Mali amid growing tension between the West African country and its international partners.

Germany has some 1,200 troops deployed in Mali as part of a 9-year-old international counter-terrorism and peacekeeping mission in the Sahel state.