German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere arrived on a first visit to Mali Monday that would include talks with President Dioncounda Traore. According to dpa, De Maiziere was also due to travel to Koulikoro, some 60 kilometers north-east of the capital Bamako, where German soldiers from the European Union training mission for Mali are stationed. Germany is to contribute up to 330 to the 500-strong EU mission that deploy under a 15-month mandate on April 2.
