NAIROBI/DAKAR (Reuters) - The UN plans to end a decade-long peacekeeping mission in Mali on June 30 and withdraw all personnel within six months, according to a Security Council resolution proposed by France and seen by Reuters. The withdrawal of the 13,000-strong force, known as MINUSMA, will come after years of conflict between the UN and Mali's military came to a head this month when Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop requested to let the soldiers leave without delay. \" It will come out in force to end the work that has been blocked by the government ban since Mali joined with the Russian military Wagner in 2021. It is said that the UN mission plays an important role in 'protecting civilians from the deadly Islamist forces. thousands. Experts fear the security situation will worsen when the operation leaves, leaving Mali's unsupported army alone with 1,000 Wagner soldiers to fight militants who control swaths of territory and mountains. in the middle of the desert. Wagner's career has also come into question after the team suffered a home defeat in Russia on Saturday. Its head, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said that these groups have not been allowed to work in Belarus. Under the resolution, UN staff will remain until the end of the year to allow for a transition, but during this time, MINUSMA's role will be reduced, including the main support it provides to the Malian army. The text was approved by two UN officials and a security expert.
The document's decision could still change before it is released, but two of the sources said they expected no change. The 15-member Security Council will vote on Thursday. To pass, the resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes from Russia, China, the United States, Britain, or France. Russia, with its military operations in Mali, and China, Moscow's ally, have long been seen as suspicious of MINUSMA. Support for the mission has begun in Western countries in 2021, Britain, Germany, and Sweden announced that they will withdraw their troops. France has a separate army in Mali, but withdrew it last year after reaching an agreement with the government. A MINUSMA spokesman declined to comment. Malian authorities did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for the UN peacekeeping force said: "Under the resolution of the Security Council, the United Nations is ready to work with the Malian authorities on the exit plan for MINUSMA". He said that local discussions are ongoing. A sudden end MINUSMA was created in 2013 after separatist rebels and al-Qaeda-linked rebels took control of northern Mali. The French forces forced the soldiers to retreat but they rallied. Mali has become the epicenter of unrest in West Africa and has forced millions of people to flee. More than 170 peacekeepers have died in the fighting, making MINUSMA the worst ongoing UN combat operation.
The UN is due to extend his mandate by a year this month before Mali tells him to leave. This authority has been criticized by Mali's military leaders, who formed a government after two coups in 2020 and 2021, and civilians, for not doing more to stop the bloodshed. The UN has repeatedly complained that restrictions on the movement of troops and aircraft have prevented it from fulfilling its mandate, including investigating allegations that Wagner and the Malian army have denied. But many African countries want MINUSMA to stay and even increase its size, they said in talks this year. It has protected cities such as Gao and Timbuktu from being surrounded by militias, has provided medical evacuations to Mali's military, and is moving government officials across the country to avoid driving into conflict zones. He oversaw negotiations between the rebel groups in the north following a 2015 peace deal known as the Algiers accord, which signatories said could collapse, and helped organize presidential elections. next year's presidential election is expected to return to civilian rule. According to the decision, operations will be reduced to ensure the safety of UN personnel, installations, and convoys. MINUSMA will provide medical evacuations to UN staff.
"The Security Council ... decides to terminate MINUSMA's mandate as of June 30 2023," said the draft resolution circulated among council member states last week. MINUSMA will "maintain its personnel until 31 December 2023, to plan and execute the cessation of operations and transfer of tasks." Where possible, and with permission from Malian authorities, "MINUSMA is authorised to respond to imminent threats of violence to civilians and contribute to the safe civilian-led delivery of humanitarian assistance in its immediate vicinity," the draft says.
