German troops will take part in a small European Union training mission in Niger after the parliament in Berlin gave its final approval on Friday, deploying to a country seen as at risk of violence spilling over from neighbouring Mali.
Islamist militants have been gaining ground in Mali following the withdrawal of French and other European forces.
The EU decided in December to set up a three-year military mission to Niger, one of the world's poorest countries, and has some 50-100 European troops there to help the country improve its logistics and infrastructure. Germany plans to deploy up to 60 soldiers.
