Tensions have been simmering between the United Nations and the government of Mali, which cooperates closely with Russia, for years. Mali’s foreign minister has now called for an immediate end to the UN mission, MINUSMA.
Before the United Nations Security Council in New York, Malian Foreign Minister Abdallah Diop demanded the immediate withdrawal of the MINUSMA peacekeeping mission.
Diop said the operation, which includes more than 10,000 blue helmets, and which also includes hundreds of German army soldiers, has not been able to adequately respond to the tense security situation in the country in the past 10 years. Instead, she became “part of the problem.” “Against this background, the government of Mali is calling for the immediate withdrawal of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). However, the government is ready to cooperate with the United Nations in this regard,” the minister said.
Foreign Minister Diop said the blue helmets were “part of the problem”.
Tensions between the United Nations and the government of the embattled country, which cooperates closely with Russia, have increased in recent years. Among other things, the French ended their participation in MINUSMA because of this.
Deployment of the German Armed Forces Obstructed by the military council
Germany already wants to withdraw its soldiers by May 31, 2024. The Bundeswehr has participated in the Blue Helmets mission to stabilize the country for ten years, but has recently been significantly obstructed by Mali’s military junta. For example, they refused flight permits for the Heron reconnaissance drone operated by the Germans on behalf of the United Nations.
In order to operate a peacekeeping mission, the United Nations relies on the consent of the country concerned. It was not clear at first whether Diop’s statements to the Security Council counted as an official position or whether a message from the government was needed, for example.
