The German government on Wednesday said it had agreed to raise its contingent in the UN’s MINUSMA peacekeeping mission in Mali to a maximum of 1,400 troops from 1,100 previously to help plug gaps left by a French pullout.

Government spokeswoman, Christiane Hoffmann, said the upper limit was increased by 300. This according to her is intended to compensate for capacities previously undertaken by French forces.

The announcement comes as France is pulling its forces out of Mali, which is separate from MINUSMA after relations with the country’s ruling junta broke down.

These forces, part of France’s Barkhane anti-jihadist mission in the Sahel — have also played an important part in supporting UN troops in the country, especially with air power.

As a result of the French decision, Germany has been mulling its deployment in Mali.