Mali tensions grow as German military aircraft loses flyover rights

Berlin: The authorities in Mali have rescinded the flyover rights of a German military transport aircraft, further complicating the Bundeswehr’s mission in the country as tensions between the two nations grow.The latest restriction affects the A400M military transporter, the Bundeswehr Operations Command told the Bundestag Defence Committee in a briefing on Wednesday, noting that the reasons for the step were unclear.The move came shortly after Mali’s military-led government banned foreign troops from a section of the capital’s airport that houses a UN base. All soldiers, including 60 from the Bundeswehr, must now soon leave the premises of the Sahel Aviation Services.The steps add further confusion about the state of an international peacekeeping mission in the troubled West African country. (dpa)