APA – Bamako (Mali) The UN mission in Mali recently published its second quarterly report of the year which suggests that at least a thousand civilians have been killed in less than twelve months.
It also says there are major constraints in the implementation of the MINUSMA mandate.
The report states that the security situation is worrying in almost all of Mali, particularly in the north and centre of the country.
Fighting has broken out in the north-western regions of Mali, such as Gao and Ménaka, as a result of atrocities committed by the Islamic State of the Great Sahara (EIGS), which is attempting to extend its influence beyond its area of control.
Also in central Mali, groups linked to Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, which is close to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), remained a major threat, as demonstrated by the complex attacks in Sévaré on 22 April.
Extremists also continue to target government installations, such as customs and forestry posts in the south and west of the country.
According to MINUSMA, between 1 July 2022 and 22 May 2023, 1,002 civilians were killed and 445 injured as a result of armed conflict, the detonation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and criminal acts.
However, this figure represents a decrease from the 1,556 civilian deaths and 530 civilian injuries reported for the period 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.
According to the mission, this reduction in civilian casualties is due to the pressure exerted on the extremist groups by the military operations of the Malian armed forces, as well as to a change in tactics on the part of the extremist groups (the latter decided, in particular, to issue ultimatums to the population to leave the area before attacking).
It also appears that the violence committed against civilians in the second quarter of this year was mainly the work of extremist groups, followed by self-defence groups and armed militias, as well as armed groups that are signatories to the agreement resulting from the Algiers process.
Several cases of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law have been reported during operations by the Malian armed forces.
MINUSMA confirmed 132 human rights violations and abuses.
A total of 89 people were killed, 31 injured and 12 abducted or forcibly disappeared.
IEDs remain a threat to peacekeepers
According to MINUSMA, the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) continued to pose a serious threat to the safety of its peacekeepers and hamper their mobility.
Between 1 July 2022 and 11 May 2023, a total of 33 improvised explosive device attacks were reported, resulting in nine deaths and 33 serious injuries among peacekeepers.
The humanitarian situation remained alarming in the second quarter of this year.
Relief agencies working under the UN coordinated humanitarian response plan estimate that 8.8 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection in the country by 2023, an increase of 17% over last year.
The most urgent needs are concentrated in certain parts of the regions of Mopti, Timbuktu, Gao, Kidal and Ménaka.
On 30 April this year, the total number of people displaced by the conflict was estimated at 375,539, 8.9% less than the 412,387 recorded in December.
The central regions of the country, such as Bandiagara, Douentza, Mopti, San and Ségou, are the most affected, with a total of 208,210 displaced persons (55%).
The remaining 151,384 IDPs (40%) are registered in the regions of Gao, Kidal, Ménaka and Timbuktu.
The deteriorating security situation in the Kidal and Ménaka regions has led to an increase in the number of displaced persons, while the relative improvement in the situation in the Mopti and Ségou regions has led to a decrease in the number of displaced persons.
However, in the Mopti and Ségou regions alone, more than 3 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance, compared to 2.8 million in 2022.
In total, the Humanitarian Response Plan for 2023 has requested $751.5 million to help 5.7 million people in the country.
As of 19 May, only $82.9 million had been received from donors, or 11% of the amount needed.
Difficulties in carrying out the mission
MINUSMA continues to face a number of constraints that prevent it from carrying out its tasks effectively.
These include the withdrawal of several troop- and police-contributing countries, the emergence of constraints on the use of air assets for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and the unavailability since July 2022 of three of the four combat companies specialising in convoy escort.
In addition, the mobility of its peacekeepers has been significantly reduced due to tensions with the transitional authorities over certain tasks, such as human rights investigations.
All these challenges mean that its future in Mali is more in doubt than ever, with its mandate due to be renewed at the end of this month.
MD/ac/lb/as/APA