(VOVworld) - Germany's new Defense Minister says Germany should engage more strongly in Africa by sending additional military trainers to Mali and supporting the French intervention in the Central African Republic.

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen signals greater role in Africa (photo: news.yahoo.com)

Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday that she foresaw boosting the training mission in Mali from its current mandate of 180 personnel to 250. Germany will deploy a medical service airbus to back up the French mission in the Central Africa Republic. Ms. Leyen said the additional troops will deal with humanitarian issues in Mali and Central Africa Republic and try to keep violence from consuming the entire region.