The Deputy Director and Chief of Staff of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) Major General Maio visited Niger between 17 and 19 May 2021. During the visit, he discussed the implementation of the 5th mandate of EUTM Mali with the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence, the G5 Sahel Sector Commander, the EU Ambassador, several Ambassadors, military attaches from EU Member States, the EUCAP Head of Mission and the Regional Advisory and Coordination Cell (RACC) representatives.

During this discussion, General Maio had the opportunity to outline how the new mandate would extend the mission until 18 May 2024 and include the G5 Sahel countries, Niger in particular. He exchanged opinions on the domestic and regional security issues and highlighted EUTM Mali’s capability to support the Nigerian Armed Forces. This, he outlined, would be done through train the trainers, pre-deployment training and non-executive accompaniment of selected units and to provide support to the consolidation of the military leadership educational system, like academies for Officers' and Non Commissioned Officers' schools.

General Maio also visited Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF) GAZELLE in Tillia, where he was briefed on the work recently completed. He discussed with the JSOTF Commander and the Nigerian Special Forces Commander the current and future activities in support of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Germany has been running the military Operation GAZELLE in Niger since 2017. Operation GAZELLE has taken the first steps to integrate into EUTM Mali and support the EU to deliver mandated activities within the G5 Sahel countries. The project of integrating the German-led Operation GAZELLE into EUTM Mali was brought to the attention of the Political Security Council (PSC) in March 2021 and is progressing according to schedule.