NEW YORK: Russia has vetoed a UN proposal to extend sanctions on Mali, Western media reported on Wednesday.
In a statement, Moscow’s ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said that despite the fact that they repeatedly asked for a constructive approach and a sensible compromise, the texts of the resolution did not in any way take into consideration the concerns of Russia and the Malian side position. The Russian ambassador expressed these remarks after casting the veto over the matter.
Moscow Vetoes UN Resolution on Mali Sanctions
Earlier, media reported that in the current week, the UN enters the 2nd phase of drawing down one of its largest peacekeeping missions in Mali after military officials in the country announced in June that they wanted the mission out by the end of 2023.
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Mali’s military, which seized the government in a 2021 military coup, told the United Nations to pack up its decade-old mission and leave the African country. They have given the UN until the end of the current year to repatriate over 12,000 peacekeepers and separate from more than 4,300 civilian staff.
Reports suggest that the recent coup in Niger is also complicating the withdrawal of the UN forces from Mali.
