A German Defense Ministry spokesperson stated "The Malian government has once again refused to give flyover rights to a flight planned today" for the rotation of personnel on the ground.
The flyover rights were refused despite assurances to the contrary from the Malian Defence Minister Sadio Camara in a call with his German counterpart Christine Lambrecht Thursday, the spokesman said.
"Camara's actions tell a different story than his words," Lambrecht said in a statement posted by her ministry on Twitter.
In response to that halt, Germany said it had decided to "suspend until further notice the operations of our reconnaissance forces and CH-53 (helicopter) transport flights".
"It is no longer possible to support the MINUSMA reconnaissance missions on an operational basis," the spokesman said.
Without the new troops, who were set to "replace French forces" in the process of withdrawing, "security on site is not assured" as the "remaining forces must be kept ready for security operations".
The German move comes as Mali's junta turned away from France and toward Russia in its fight against jihadism.
The German move comes as Mali's junta turned away from France and toward Russia in its fight against jihadism.
The long-running insurgency has claimed thousands of lives and forced hundreds of thousands from their homes.
The relationship between Bamako and Paris, its former colonial power and traditional ally, has deteriorated in recent months.
The arrival of Russian Wagner Group mercenaries in the country on the invitation of the Malian government was a key factor in France's decision to pull its military forces out.
The withdrawal is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.