UN ends peacekeeping mission in Mali: ‘A failed mission’

Mali’s foreign minister, Abdoulaye Diop, referred to the UN peacekeeping mission as a “failure” and demanded that it be stopped right away, as the United Nations Security Council agreed and voted to end the mission.

The Security Council unanimously decided to start wrapping up the mission right away because peacekeepers require the host government’s approval.

read more: Malian troops and foreign forces executed 500 people in a village in 2022: UN

Issa Konfourou, Mali’s representative to the UN, added that his nation regrets the Security Council’s continued designation of the country’s circumstances as “a threat to international peace and security.”

“Mali is still willing to work with any partners who want to collaborate with it, provided that they uphold the founding principles of our state policies.”

In accordance with Konfourou, Mali will work closely with the UN.

Although the timing of the withdrawal and the alleged involvement of the Wagner group concerned British UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward, who spoke out at the UN.

“The United Kingdom would not have chosen to withdraw MINUSMA at this time when Mali and the wider Sahel are facing increasing instability and humanitarian needs, and we do not believe that partnership with the Wagner group will deliver long-term stability or security for the Malian people,” said Woodward.

When Sergei Lavrov, the foreign minister of Russia, called Diop shortly after the withdrawal vote, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year, he pledged “unrelenting support” for Mali in the military, humanitarian, and economic spheres.

As Mali sought to assume “full responsibility” for its security, Anna Evstigneeva, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN, also pledged to provide Mali with “comprehensive support.”

Mali had also made a “sovereign decision,” Evstigneeva informed the Security Council.”

She said, “We would like to reaffirm our support for Bamako in its aspiration to take full responsibility and play the leading role in stabilizing the Malian state. “Russia will continue to offer full support to Mali in its efforts to normalize the situation on a bilateral basis.”

In accordance with the resolution pushed by France, the peacekeepers will stop their primary mission starting on Saturday and concentrate on leaving.

Through September, they will nevertheless have the authority to defend against allegedly “imminent threats of violence to civilians.”

174 peacekeepers have died since the UN operation known as MINUSMA was established in 2013, making it the organization’s most expensive mission at $1.22 billion annually.

A renewal of MINUSMA while streamlining its operations was the suggestion made by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres earlier in June. Although he acknowledged shortcomings, he referred to the mission as “invaluable.”

Last year, Mali accused France of violating its airspace and arming terrorists and armed groups.

With 13,000 soldiers and police in MINUSMA, ending the organization will be a herculean task, requiring the UN to remove equipment, helicopters, and armored vehicles.

According to a spokesperson for UN peacekeeping operations, “securing the constructive cooperation of the Malian authorities will be essential to facilitate the process.”

Mali, a former French colony, expelled French forces last year after nine unpopular years of war that left Mali among the world’s poorest nations.

As many as 2.5 million people have become refugees, thousands of civilians have died, and in 2020, popular anti-French protests succeeded in toppling the politicians who initially conspired with Paris and were widely accused of corruption.

Many of France’s former colonies attained independence in the 1950s, but since 1960, France has conducted more than 50 military operations in Africa.

source reuters