Germany to give Mali 15 mln euros to support decentralization efforts

Source:Xinhua Published: 2013-3-25 20:26:44

The German economic and development cooperation minister said on Sunday that his country will give Mali 17 million euros to support decentralization program and health sectors.

Minister Dirk Niebel who was addressing the press in Bamako, announced that his country will give Mali 15 million euros to support decentralization efforts and 2 million euros for health services. He placed more emphasis on the need for the country to achieve food security.

Following the March 22, 2012 coup, Germany, just like many of the other countries and international organizations, suspended cooperation with Mali.

The minister affirmed that after Mali's elections scheduled for July, Germany will resume "aid funding" for the new authorities.

The press conference was also addressed by the Malian Foreign Minister Tieman Hubert Coulibaly.

Speaking about the July elections and especially regarding the need for the return of Malian refugees, the country's chief diplomat said that "we are doing everything possible to ensure that all refugees return to the country."

"There's no reason for the latter to remain in refugee camps in Burkina Faso, Niger and Mauritania," the Malian foreign minister said.

Having arrived in Mali on Friday, Niebel visited the central region of Mopti on Saturday to deliver humanitarian assistance to the internally displaced persons in their camps.

Posted in: Africa

blog comments powered by Disqus