In a move sparking further global isolation, Mali’s foreign ministry on Thursday ordered the suspension of all rotations of the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in the country (MINUMSA), including those already scheduled, “for reasons related to national security.”
The statement added that the junta will soon meet with the UN representatives to finalise an “optimal plan” to “facilitate the coordination and regulation of the rotation of contingents” under its missions, without specifying a date.
To this end, UN spokesperson Olivier Salgado has called for an “immediate discussion” for an “urgent settlement” of the suspension, noting that rotation is crucial to fulfilling MINUMSA’s mandate, stressing that “some of the staff concerned should have been relieved several months ago.”
#Rotations #Mali #MINUSMA The mission takes note of this communication and stands ready to participate in the discussions without delay. pic.twitter.com/DJldtwMZY3
— Olivier Salgado 🇺🇳 (@olivier_salgado) July 14, 2022
Likewise, deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq remarked that the rotation of contingents helps maintain the “mission’s operational effectiveness and the safety and security of personnel.”
In response, Malian authorities have pledged to “work diligently to create conditions conducive to the lifting of this suspension of rotation.”
The latest decision comes against the backdrop of soaring tensions between the military government and the UN, after the junta detained 49 Ivorian soldiers last week, accusing them of being “mercenaries” and planning to overthrow the government.
UN says #Mali peacekeeping mission is ready to participate in discussions with national authorities "without delay" regarding rotation of contingents, per deputy @UN_Spokesperson: "All efforts must be made for an urgent settlement." https://t.co/wQoxY1RED0
— Amanda Price (@amandaruthprice) July 14, 2022
Both the Ivory Coast and MINUMSA have demanded their release, clarifying that the soldiers were the eighth rotation sent to the country as National Support Elements, and have been contracted to perform logistical support duties for the UN since 2019.
The junta in turn claimed to have gathered “four different versions” as to why the Ivorian soldiers were in Bamako, and conveyed that their case is being considered by judicial investigators.
Around 13,000 troops from MINUMSA were first stationed in the west African nation in 2013 to help tackle jihadist insurgences, with their term renewed for another year on June 29.
This has not been received very well by the Malian junta, which has voiced its “firm opposition” to the freedom of movement of UN forces to conduct human rights investigations.
Mali has witnessed increased war crimes and violence against civilians since 2018, particularly in the central regions of the country. Despite commitments and investigations, justice has been slow in coming for the victims and/or their families and impunity still prevails.
— Amnesty International (@amnesty) April 13, 2022
Moreover, UN peacekeepers have recurrently been attacked in Mali, with nearly 177 MINUMSA soldiers killed over the last decade. In this respect, the UN Security Council has voiced concerns over the “chronic lack of security” in Mali, while condemning the use of explosive devices by attackers to “paralyse the operations of the UN Mission and to obstruct the return to peace and stability” in the nation.
Thursday’s orders mark another step towards increasing global isolation for the military junta led by Col. Assimi Goïta, who assumed power following a coup in August 2020 and then further consolidated his rule via another coup in May 2021.
With 2,400 French troops to exit Mali by the end of the summer, officials from France will head to #Niger tomorrow to devise a new strategy to counter the terrorist threat in the #Sahel https://t.co/Ke7y4ltFda
— CEP (@FightExtremism) July 14, 2022
There are concerns that the region could be thrown into further turmoil with the withdrawal of up to 2,400 troops, who are being relocated to Niger after the junta unilaterally terminated Mali’s Defense Cooperation Treaty with France in May.
The junta accused French soldiers of espionage and even made unsubstantiated allegations of a Western-backed coup attempt.
The junta has also drawn criticism for refusing to return the country to civilian rule before March 2024, well after the originally agreed-upon deadline of February 2022.
🇲🇱🇷🇺| Update on #Wagner alleged base in #Bamako, #Mali.
— Casus Belli 🛰 (@casusbellintel) July 7, 2022
The base is now equipped with a security post at the entrance, and new construction is underway on the South and West areas.
A peak of activity is visible in SAR imagery on June 26, 2022. pic.twitter.com/lUim4yniUT
It has also courted backlash for its cooperation with Russian mercenaries, particularly from the Kremlin-linked Wagner Group, which has over 1,000 soldiers deployed in the country. While the Russian paramilitaries insist that they are merely providing intelligence reconnaissance, rights groups claim that they have participated in human rights violations and even mass murders. For instance, Russian mercenaries allegedly took part in a “counterterrorism operation” back in March that resulted in the death of up to 300 unarmed civilians.
The UN Refugee Agency estimates that at least 400,000 Malians have been displaced by the constant instability in the country, which has often spilled over into neighbouring nations such as Burkina Faso and Niger.