by Michelle Nichols
United Nations, (Reuters) – The United Nations Security Council on Friday approved the withdrawal by the end of the year of its peacekeeping mission in Mali, after the military junta demanded two years ago weeks to force 13,000 men to leave “without delay”.
The end of the United Nations Mission for the Stabilization of Mali (Minusma) comes after months of tension between peacekeepers and the military junta in power in Bamako since the coups of 2020 and 2021.
The 15-member Council adopted a resolution drafted by France, calling on the mission to begin on Saturday the cessation of its operations, the transfer of its tasks, as well as the orderly and safe reduction and withdrawal of its personnel, and to complete this process by December 31, 2023.
France withdrew its forces from the country last summer, finding it impossible to cooperate with the ruling junta, which is now collaborating with the Russian paramilitary group Wagner.
Experts fear the security situation will worsen after the mission leaves, with an under-equipped Malian army and around 1,000 Wagner mercenaries to fight an Islamist insurgency in the north and center of the country.
The Security Council resolution authorizes Minusma to respond to imminent threats of violence against civilians and to help deliver humanitarian aid safely and under civilian direction until September 30.
The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, will have to work with the Malian authorities to transfer the tasks of Minusma. The Council calls on Mali to cooperate fully with the United Nations during the withdrawal of the peacekeeping mission.
Minusma is also authorized until December 31 to ensure the security of UN personnel, installations, convoys, installations and equipment, as well as associated personnel.
The peacekeeping mission can also carry out operations aimed at extracting UN personnel and humanitarian workers in danger and carrying out medical evacuations.
The United Nations Security Council deployed Minusma in 2013 to support foreign and local efforts to restore stability in the country. (Report Michelle Nichols; French version Kate Entringer, editing by Tangi Salaün)
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