NEW YORK: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has voted to immediately close its peacekeeping mission in Mali, Western media reported on Saturday. As per media reports, Mali’s military government was demanding the UN to end its mission in the African country.
UN Votes to Immediately Close Its Mission in Mali
Mali has seen its ties with world become strained in part due to its military regime reportedly brought in the Wagner group. The group has also been engaged in Russia’s war in Ukraine and were also part of a brief mutiny against Moscow last week led by the group’s leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, AP reported.
The French-drafted resolution, approved by UNSC unanimously, ends the mandate of UN peacekeeping mission (MINUSMA). The UN orders the MINUSMA to start the withdrawal of 15,000 personnel on Saturday. According to media reports, the withdrawal of troops will be completed by the end of the current year.
US envoy Jeffrey DeLaurentis expressed deep regret at Mali’s decision to abandon MINUSMA in the African country. He added that a few domestic elements in the African country are calling for harassment of UN peacekeepers and asked the mission to make sure the safe and orderly transfer of UN equipment to UN-designated venues.
He said, “The United Nations has a duty to reduce the risk that its assets fall into the hands of those elements looking to destabilize the African country,”.
British envoy Barbara Woodward also expressed regret that Mali government wanted the UN peacekeepers to leave the country at a time when the region is “confronting instability.”
She added, “And we do not trust the alliance with the Wagner will deliver long-term stability people in Mali,”.
Meanwhile, US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby expressed concern at Wagner’s activities in Africa, particularly in Mali and Central African Republic. He claimed that “Wagner’s leader helped engineer” the speedy departure of MINUSMA “to further Wagner’s interests.”
UN chief Antonio Guterres paid rich tribute to the MINUSMA personnel who lost their lives “in the service of peace during last ten years in Mali.
