APA-Bamako (Mali) Ahead of a possible renewal of its mandate Malians accuse the embattled UN peacekeeping mission of being behind recent jihadist attacks.
Since the triple attack on military installations and the airport in Sevare on Saturday, April 22, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) has been facing an intense campaign bordering on misinformation and hate speech.
Two UN mission officers returning from a trip were physically attacked. Although they escaped unharmed, the vehicle they were in was damaged by stones and other projectiles thrown by angry demonstrators.
The demonstrators blamed MINUSMA for the raid which was claimed by the Sahelian branch of Al Qaeda in the
Islamic Maghreb.
These demonstrators find it strange that “on the eve of the renewal of MINUSMA’s mandate, the attacks multiply. For them, this is a way for the mission to legitimise and even impose its presence in Mali.”
A demonstration is planned for Friday 28 April, in Bamako, against the presence of the peacekeepers in Mali. To this end, a well-known local radio talk show host did not hesitate to call on Malians to “attack the mission’s installations, destroy them and throw them into the river.”
It should be noted that for some time, the mission has been the subject of trenchant criticism in Mali. In October 2019, its facilities were ransacked and vandalised in Sevare. However, during last Saturday’s attack in the city, the situation could have been worse without the intervention of peacekeepers of the rapid reaction
force of the Senegalese contingent of MINUSMA who returned fire and helped to repel the attack.
“MINUSMA is deployed in Mali at the request of the Malian authorities to support their efforts,” said UN mission spokeswoman Fati Kaba.
The replacement for Olivier Salgago added that “if the calls for violence continue, it could be dangerous for our colleagues, who are working for peace and security.”
On its Twitter account, MINUSMA said that “incitement to hatred and violence against peacekeepers is unacceptable and a violation of international law.”
The UN mission condemns these acts and adds that “it is the duty of all to protect those who risk their lives to
support peace and stability in Mali.”
MINUSMA’s mandate will be reviewed in June for renewal by the UN Security Council.
This will come against the backdrop of the withdrawal of some nations’ contingents after indicating they were no longer willing to continue with their peackeeping role.
MD/ac/fss/as/APA