Mali Demands Immediate Withdrawal of UN Peacekeeping Mission

Mali Demands Immediate Withdrawal of UN Peacekeeping Mission

The Malian government has made a shocking statement, calling for the immediate withdrawal of MINUSMA (United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali), the UN peacekeeping force deployed for nearly a decade in the country.

A withdrawal required for lack of mission

Abdoulaye Diop, Mali's foreign minister, told a UN Security Council meeting that MINUSMA had failed to fulfill its mission and therefore had to withdraw its troops without further delay. According to him, this mission fuels community tensions and undermines Mali's national cohesion.

MINUSMA defends

Faced with these accusations, the Head of Mission and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Mali, Mr. El-Ghassim Wane, refuted these assertions. Despite a complex environment and restrictions on freedom of movement, he assured that MINUSMA strives to implement its mandate in the most effective way possible.

An international debate

This debate elicited various reactions from members of the UN Security Council. France stressed the importance of MINUSMA in maintaining peace in Mali, while the Russian Federation defended the strengthening of Russian-Malian cooperation.

What future for MINUSMA?

The future of MINUSMA in Mali remains uncertain. Tensions between the mission and the Malian government have reached a fever pitch, and the final decision on MINUSMA's withdrawal will be taken at the June 29 UN Security Council meeting.