UN mission in Mali claims to act

The Secretary General Antonio Guterres report notably underlines the “movement restrictions” encountered by MINUSMA, most of them imposed by the Malian authorities.

Le Monde with AFP

The head of the UN mission in Mali (Minusma) claimed on Tuesday October 18 from the Security Council the means necessary to ensure its mandate in a country where the security situation remains “volatile” in several regions and where its actions undergo “restrictions”.

While four new peacekeepers were killed on Monday by an improvised explosive device, El-Ghassim Wane described “a very difficult security, humanitarian and human rights situation”. “The security situation remains volatile in central Mali and in the three Mali-Burkina Faso-Niger borders,” he added.

“We use our resources in the most creative and flexible way possible”, but the “determination” of peacekeepers on the ground “cannot replace the means we desperately need”, he still insisted, describing a “difficult operational environment”.

The report of Secretary General Antonio Guterres examined during this meeting underlines in particular the “movement and access restrictions” encountered by MINUSMA, most imposed by the Malian authorities, as well as “disinformation campaigns” against the mission .

“Hops for mission activities”

“MINUSMA is in danger,” commented the French ambassador Nicolas de Rivière, evoking the actions of terrorist groups and the “obstacles to the activities of the mission”. “We are counting on the spirit of responsibility of the transitional authorities so as not to precipitate a departure of which the Malians would be the first victims,” ​​he added, demanding a “full and whole cooperation” of the junta.

Antonio Gutteres, who must present proposals by possible changes in the mission by January, noted in September the need to find “new solutions” for the minusma.

In June, the Security Council extended its mandate until June 30, 2023, but for the first time without the air support of France which has completely withdrew from Mali. He plans at this stage a maintenance of current workforce, 13,289 soldiers and 1,920 police officers.

“Contrary to what is conveyed, there is no desire to restrict the movements of the mission”, replied the Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdoulaye Diop, highlighting the “will to assert our sovereignty on our territory “.

As for the future of MINUSMA, the “priority” of Mali is its “refocusing” on the “foundation of its presence in Mali, in particular the support for the restoration of the authority of the State on the ‘set of territory “.

The Minister also demanded a special session of the Security Council on France again, which he accused of “repeated violations of Malian airspace”, “duplicity, espionage and destabilization “. “False” charges rejected by the French ambassador.

/Media reports.