APA-Bamako (Mali) – With the deadline for the imminent withdrawal of the UN mission in Mali in less than three months’ time, there is uncertainty whether this timetable will be met.
Mali, one of the Sahel countries blighted by separatist rebels and jihadist groups, has in recent weeks embarked on a military operation to recapture a large part of its territory, from the centre to the north of the country. The Malian army is continuing its advance towards Kidal, with the ultimate aim of taking the strategic town within the next few days.
These operations are being conducted by Bamako as the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) prepares to leave the West African country for good before 31 December 2023. However, in view of recent developments in theatres of operation, observers are skeptical about the possibility of the MINUSMA withdrawing before this date, given the many logistical and operational nightmares that lie ahead.
Begun on September 1, the second phase of the MINUSMA withdrawal is encountering major difficulties. Of the eight UN mission bases still open (Kidal, Tessalit, Aguelhok, Douentza, Mopti/Sevare, Gao, Timbuktu and Bamako), none has been closed.
However, it was planned to close at least four of them by mid-October 2023 namely Douentza, Sevare/Mopti, Aguelhok and Tessalit.
However, during the first phase of the withdrawal, which was completed on 25 August, the UNMISAM did not encounter any major difficulties in handing over its four bases (Ogossagou, Ber, Goundam and Menaka) to the Malian authorities. Some had even expressed doubts as to whether the deadline set for completing the first phase of the MINUSMA withdrawal process would be met. Violence marred the handover of the MINUSMA base in Ber, a locality in the Timbuktu region that was under the control of the rebels before they were driven out by the Malian Armed Forces, usually referred to by the acronym FAMa.
However, the status quo remains the same regarding the second phase of the withdrawal process. For MINUSMA, the current stalemate is due to a number of factors, including the resumption of hostilities between the parties that signed the 2015 peace agreement (the Malian army and the rebels), the intensification of militant attacks that have not spared its installations, and the Malian authorities’ refusal to grant it movement permits to dismantle its various remaining bases.
MINUSMA reports that, since 24 September, logistics convoys have not been allowed to leave the town of Gao to collect United Nations materials and other equipment from troop-contributing countries currently stationed in Aguelhok, Tessalit and Kidal.
If these blockages persist, it will be difficult for MINUSMA to meet the deadline (31 December) for its withdrawal from Mali. If it had to leave on the date indicated, it would be made to “leave by force,” abandoning equipment belonging to troop-contributing countries or the United Nations.
The UN Mission warns that this situation would result in major financial losses for these countries and would prevent the United Nations from supporting other peacekeeping operations requiring this equipment.
MD/fss/odl/as/APA