Trapped in a crisis of trust! Mali demands immediate withdrawal of UN peacekeeping forces | Mali | Crisis of confidence
On the 16th, the transitional government of Mali called for the immediate withdrawal of United Nations peacekeeping forces, citing a "crisis of trust" between them and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stability Mission in Mali.
On the 16th, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said at the United Nations Security Council's public meeting on Mali, "Unfortunately, the Mali stabilization mission seems to have become part of the problem of fueling tensions between communities... This situation has caused distrust among the Malian people, leading to a crisis of trust between the Malian authorities and the Mali stabilization mission."
In March 2012, a military coup occurred in Mali. The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution in April of the following year to establish the Mali Stabilization Mission to support efforts to restore stability. Since 2015, violent incidents related to Al Qaeda and extremist group ISIS have spread to Mali. In August 2020 and May 2021, the political situation in Mali underwent two changes, and the conflict between the military control authorities, the Mali Stabilization Mission, and France intensified.
Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenza said that peacekeeping operations can only succeed if they closely cooperate with the host country and respect Mali's sovereignty. The real problem is not the number of peacekeeping personnel, but the role played by peacekeeping forces.
According to the authorization of the Security Council, the priority task of the Mali Stabilization Mission is to support this West African country in completing its political transition.
French Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Nicolas de Riviere, cited a report submitted to the Security Council stating that despite ongoing dialogue between the Mali Stabilization Mission and the Mali Transitional Government, the movement of UN peacekeeping personnel has been restricted.
The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 2640 in June last year, extending the term of the Mali Stabilization Mission until June 30 of this year. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres proposed this month to extend the term of the Mali Stabilization Mission for another year and maintain the current size of peacekeeping personnel.
Regarding Diop's remarks, the United Nations Special Envoy for Mali, Kasim Vani, said that the future of the Mali stabilization mission depends on the decisions of the Security Council.