Camp in Mali surrendered by UN peacekeeping mission

Camp in Mali surrendered by UN peacekeeping mission
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UN Multi-dimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) handed over one of its last camps to the West African country’s authorities on December 8, according to Africa News and agencies. 

The ruling junta had previously demanded that the UN surrender the camp in Mopti, a turmoil-stricken region in central Mali as well as an end to the UN peacekeeping mission which came to a halt after a decade. 

MINUSMA was established in April 2013 by Security Council Resolution 2100 with the goal of bringing stability to the country following a rebellion by Tuareg seperatists a year prior. 

The Mopti region, in addition to the Sahel, has been a washed with armed Islamist groups linked to prominent terror organisations, notably Al-Qaeda and Daesh. The camp has long been a jihadist milieu. 

READ: Mark Willenbrock: Russian Mercenaries muscle into Mali

The UN Security Council officially terminated the mission’s mandate on June 30 and has given it until December 31 to complete its withdrawal as the peacekeeping body recently confirmed that 10,500 of their men had departed Mali. 

MINUSMA had 15,000 members in the junta-led nation of which 180 were killed in violent acts during their ten-year operation. 

Mali, as well as neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso, have long experienced uncertainty given the prominence of military coups. Neighbouring Niger has been under scrutiny by ECOWAS and the international community more generally following the forceful ousting of democratically elected Mohamed Bazoum in July of this year whereas Mali has been under military rule since 2021 when President Bah Daw was deposed. 

AFP/ Africa News


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