Germany to participate in military training mission in Somalia, overcoming previous reluctance

BERLIN – Germany will contribute soldiers to a European Union-led military training mission in Somalia — overcoming its previous reluctance to send troops to the East African country.

Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Chancellor Angela Merkel's Cabinet decided Wednesday to commit up to 20 soldiers to the mission. The move needs parliamentary approval, which it is expected to receive.

The EU mission moved to the Somali capital, Mogadishu, in December. It was launched in Uganda in 2010 and Germany participated in training there, but initially wouldn't send soldiers to Somalia itself because of security concerns.

Germany has been cautiously moving toward a more active foreign policy role under Merkel's new coalition government, which took office in December.