Mali’s foreign minister, Abdoulaye Diop, has appealed to the United Nations to immediately withdraw its peacekeeping force, Minusma, from the country. Diop addressed the UN Security Council, stating that Minusma has become a contributor to intercommunal tensions instead of a solution.
Minusma, which comprises over 13,000 troops, has been deployed in Mali for over a decade but has been unable to effectively combat the spread of jihadist violence. Recent developments have seen Russian Wagner mercenaries supporting Mali’s military rulers, further complicating the situation.
Western officials have previously accused Wagner Group of human rights abuses in Ukraine and other parts of Africa. Last month, the United States imposed sanctions on Ivan Maslov, whom it identified as Wagner’s top official in Mali. However, Wagner has not responded to these allegations, and its activities in Mali and other African regions remain veiled in secrecy.
Foreign Minister Diop’s criticism of Minusma follows previous objections from Mali regarding France’s longstanding involvement in the country, which resulted in a strained alliance. Diop emphasized the “crisis of confidence” between the Malian authorities and Minusma and called for the immediate withdrawal of the peacekeeping force.
Minusma’s mandate is set to expire on 29 June, but UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has recommended a reconfiguration of the mission to focus on specific priorities. Currently, military contingents from Chad, Bangladesh, and Egypt are the largest contributors to the force, according to the UN.
In response to Diop’s remarks, the UN special envoy to Mali, El-Ghassim Wane, stated that they would abide by any decision made by the Security Council. However, Wane also acknowledged that operating in a specific country would be extremely challenging, if not impossible, without the consent of the host country.
A report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights accused the Malian armed forces and “foreign security personnel” of killing over 500 individuals during an operation in the village of Moura in central Mali in March of the previous year. Both the governments of Mali and Russia condemned the report’s findings.
