At a Security Council session on Friday, Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Diop called for an “immediate withdrawal” of the UN mission, citing its inability to restore security, saying: “It seems that MINUSMA has become part of the problem by stoking sectarian tensions.
The Security Council is due to make its decision on the fate of the mission on June 29, the day before its June 30 mandate expires.
Power struggle session
The Security Council session reflected the struggle for influence between Russia and France in Mali, with France’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Nicolas de Rivière, opposing the mission’s withdrawal, saying that his mission is “for the stability of the whole region” and the implementation of the Algiers peace agreement.
For his part, Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, backed Bamako’s request, saying, “We believe that any proposal here should be based on the opinion of the host country.”
Furthermore, the Russian official hinted that his country’s support in Bamako has brought more benefits than the mission, adding that “with this support, the Malian armed forces have achieved tangible results, including 59 successful operations between February and march against terrorists”.
Threat from Wagner Group
Michael Churkin, a researcher at the American Rand Center for Security Consulting, predicted that the results of the withdrawal of MINUSMA would be an increased threat to civilian security, and what he called “crimes against humanity” committed by the Russian private group “Wagner”. .
Shurkin said: “Bamako asked for help from Wagner, who specializes in the supply of mercenaries, through an agreement with Moscow to support his army in the fight against the two groups of Nusrat al-Islam and of Muslims loyal to al-Qaeda and ISIS, as an alternative to French forces that withdrew after authorities accused them of “not fighting them”.
Late decision to End UN Mission
A professor of political science at the University of Bamako, Mohamed Ag Ismail, said the demand to end the UN mission was “too late” because:
In view of the tense relations between Mali and the West, this mission, led by France and its allies, cannot continue. MINUSMA, despite its development and logistics role, cannot fight terrorism because it does not have sufficient powers and capabilities. Mali has chosen its new ally (in reference to Russia) as Bamako prepares for the constitutional referendum on Sunday, then the elections. It is not inconceivable that after the withdrawal of MINUSMA, Mali will withdraw from the Algiers agreement in view of Russian support and a feeling of strength. The peace accord was brokered by Algeria in 2015, between the government and armed movements in the Azawad region, which were struggling to establish an independent state in the region.
Mission MINUSMA
It was formed in 2013 by a decision of the Security Council after the battles of Azawad.
Ten countries contribute more than 13,000 soldiers and 1,920 police.
– It is the most vulnerable mission in the world to terrorist attacks, as it has claimed the lives of dozens of its soldiers, which has pushed Britain, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Germany and others to retire in 2022.
– In 2022, the authorities expelled the mission’s spokesman, Olivier Salgado, after accusing him of publishing “unacceptable information” about the detention of Ivorian soldiers in Mali.
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