https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230613/un-chief-seeks-to-streamline-troubled-mali-peacekeeping-mission-1059892928.html
UN Chief Seeks to Streamline Troubled Mali Peacekeeping Mission
UN Chief Seeks to Streamline Troubled Mali Peacekeeping Mission
Sputnik Africa
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Tuesday for maintaining but streamlining a peacekeeping mission in troubled Mali, whose military leaders have... 13.06.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-06-13T18:11+0200
2023-06-13T18:11+0200
2023-06-14T11:48+0200
sub-saharan africa
mali
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united nations security council (unsc)
antonio guterres
united nations (un)
united nations multidimensional integrated stabilization mission in mali (minusma)
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In a report to the Security Council, which will vote June 29 on extending one of the most dangerous UN missions, Guterres called for a "reconfiguration" of the effort known as MINUSMA first launched 10 years ago. In January, Guterres submitted a strategic review of MINUSMA at the request of the Security Council to assess options for a mission tasked with stabilizing a state that has come under heavy pressure from jihadist violence. With the security situation deteriorating, he proposed three options including raising troop levels and pulling out the mission completely. In the end, he opted for a middle course. Guterres called for MINUSMA to maintain its current level of 13,289 soldiers and 1,920 police personnel. As of last month, the actual force is smaller with 11,102 soldiers and 1,315 police due to the difficulties of persuading countries to contribute.Mali's military rulers have increasingly clashed with the West, imposing operational restrictions on peacekeepers and breaking the country's longstanding alliance with former colonial power France.Last year France wound up a controversial military operation launched in 2014 with an aim of preventing a jihadist takeover. Last month Germany said it would pull its own 1,110 troops out of MINUSMA, with Europe's largest economy saying it would instead focus on civilian assistance.Guterres said he would use his authority to focus on the civilian component to support the political transition plan.His strategy could mean the shutdown of some camps such as the Ber site in the Timbuktu region and lead to a coordinated withdrawal from parts of the Kidal region.Guterres, in conducting his review, sought freedom of movement for the peacekeepers. He also looked for political progress in Mali, which witnessed back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230526/several-thousand-people-reportedly-protesting-in-bamako-against-un-mission-in-mali-1059504437.html
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230524/mali-hopes-russia-will-continue-to-provide-security-assistance-long-term-envoy-to-us-says-1059436833.html
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UN Chief Seeks to Streamline Troubled Mali Peacekeeping Mission
18:11 13.06.2023 (Updated: 11:48 14.06.2023) Agence France Presse (AFP)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Tuesday for maintaining but streamlining a peacekeeping mission in troubled Mali, whose military leaders have clashed with the West and turned to Russia.
In a report to the Security Council, which will vote June 29 on extending one of the most dangerous UN missions,
Guterres called for a "reconfiguration" of the effort known as MINUSMA first launched 10 years ago.
"The Council could consider streamlining MINUSMA tasks around a limited set of priorities to improve its overall effectiveness until the end of the political transition," promised by the Malian military government by March 2024, Guterres said.
In January, Guterres submitted a strategic review of
MINUSMA at the request of the Security Council to assess options for a mission tasked with stabilizing a state that has come under heavy pressure from jihadist violence.
With the security situation deteriorating, he proposed three options including raising troop levels and pulling out the mission completely. In the end, he opted for a middle course.
"As I stressed in January, the status quo is not and cannot be an option," Guterres wrote. "It can also neither be an option for the Malian people, who continue to bear the brunt of unspeakable violence and whose strong yearning for a better future remains unfulfilled, nor one for the international community, which, since 2013, has invested heavily in the stabilization of the country."
Guterres called for MINUSMA to maintain its current level of 13,289 soldiers and 1,920 police personnel. As of last month, the actual force is smaller with 11,102 soldiers and 1,315 police due to the difficulties of persuading countries to contribute.
Mali's military rulers have increasingly clashed with the West, imposing operational restrictions on peacekeepers and breaking the country's longstanding alliance with former colonial power France.
Last year France wound up a controversial military operation launched in 2014 with an aim of preventing a jihadist takeover. Last month Germany said it would pull its own 1,110 troops out of MINUSMA, with Europe's largest economy saying it would instead focus on civilian assistance.
Guterres said he would use his authority to focus on the civilian component to support the political transition plan.
His strategy could mean the shutdown of some camps such as the Ber site in the Timbuktu region and lead to a coordinated withdrawal from parts of the Kidal region.
Guterres, in conducting his review, sought freedom of movement for the peacekeepers. He also looked for political progress in Mali, which witnessed back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021.
"While there are areas of lingering and serious concern, there have also been some encouraging developments," Guterres said, pointing to the announcement of a constitutional referendum.
