Mali deployment becoming increasingly dangerous: German general

The inspector general of Germany's Bundeswehr has warned that the nation's largest foreign deployment - in the West African country of Mali - is growing increasingly dangerous in military and political terms.

"We have a government there that we regard as not democratically legitimate. The fact that it does not want to hold elections for another five years is an intolerable state of affairs for us. There can be no 'business as usual,'" general Eberhard Zorn told dpa.

Around 1,400 Bundeswehr soldiers are currently in Mali as part of the European Union's training mission, EUTM, and the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA.

Tensions in Mali have increased recently, especially between the military junta and former colonial power France. The French ambassador has been expelled from the country, as have Danish special forces.

Previously, there had already been a dispute about the presence of Russian mercenaries in Mali.

The situation has generally become more complicated in the region, Germany's highest-ranking soldier said.

"If we broaden the focus beyond Mali to the Sahel as a whole, we now see another coup in Burkina Faso and an attempted coup in Guinea-Bissau. This does not make the military situation any easier," Zorn said.

"These countries are in difficult political waters. Niger is the anchor for us in the region right now."

In Mali, the overall security situation has deteriorated, according to Zorn. The training of the Malian armed forces is progressing, he said, but there is "still a long way to go" before the entire Malian army will be fully trained.

"The terrorist groups continue to spread. The only comparatively safe zone is around the capital Bamako," Zorn explained.

"From a purely military point of view, I see parallels with Afghanistan in the methods and procedures of the terrorist groups. Attacks with [improvised explosive devices] and complex ambushes are also a reality in Africa," the top general said.

"Added to this is the use of modern technology. Drone and missile attacks are increasing significantly."