Photo Gallery Mali Mission Exposes Divisions
A German Transall C-160 cargo plane lands in the Malian capital of Bamako on Saturday, one of two such planes Berlin has made available to France to assist with its operations in Mali. But Germany has insisted that it will do no more.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle (left) has been vociferous in his refusal to send combat troops to Mali. His proactive justifications for Berlin's reserve are not to the liking of Defense Minister Thomas de Maizière (right), who prefers to talk about what Germany is doing.
A Malian soldier stopping a vehicle at a checkpoint in Diabaly. Westerwelle has justified Germany's restraint by pointing to his country's involvement in the Afghanistan conflict.
Andreas Schockenhoff, a CDU member of parliament, criticized Westerwelle. "Germany should not rule out any form of participation," he said. Others agree.
On Monday, SPIEGEL ONLINE reported that, while Germany has made two Transall cargo planes available to assist France with the Mali mission, Berlin has ruled out transporting French troops or munitions.
Other allies are taking a different approach. London is reportedly considering boosting Britain's presence in Mali, with Prime Minister David Cameron noting this week that North Africa is becoming a "magnet for jihadists."
French and Malian troops on Monday wrested control of Diabaly from the Islamists. Here, a Malian soldier walks through a camp that had been used by radical Islamists before it was bombarded by French warplanes.
France has said that it intends to stay in Mali until the Islamists are defeated and the country's territorial integrity is restored.
A French helicopter taking off for a military operation in northern Mali, which is under the control of Islamic extremists. Germany has chosen to stay as far away from the violence as possible.
Tanks waiting to be loaded onto a plane and flown north. The mass hostage taking at a natural gas plant in Algeria late last week highlights the dangers posed by extremists in the Sahara.
A French soldier atop a tank in Mali. "The goal is the total reconquest of Mali. We will not leave any pockets" of resistance, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on French television on Sunday.
