It's an informal meeting behind closed doors… At France's request, the UN Security Council is due to hold a discussion on Mali on Tuesday.
France wishes to explain to its members its decisions to withdraw from the French Barkhane and European Takuba operations, according to diplomats.
The impact of French decisions on the mission of UN peacekeepers in Mali (Minusma) will also be discussed during this session organized under the presidency of Russia, in charge of the rotating leadership of the Security Council in February, according to the same sources.
The future of the Minusma compromised
France announced on Thursday the withdrawal over “4 to 6 months” from Mali of the French force Barkhane and the European unit Takuba.
Until now, the Minusma has benefited from significant air and medical support from the French soldiers of Barkhane.
According to diplomats, the French withdrawal could lead European contingents participating in Minusma, such as the German or the British, to also initiate their departure.
The future of Minusma, whose annual mandate is to be renewed in June, could be compromised by the latest developments in Mali, which has decided to develop its partnership with Russia.
Changing “security landscape”
The French withdrawal must "not undermine Minusma", said a diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity.
After June, the UN peacekeeping mission "will remain present" in Mali, he said, while emphasizing that it will have to "adapt" to the withdrawal of French forces from this country.
Friday, the spokesman of the UN, Stéphane Dujarric, questioned on this impact, had indicated that it was "clear" that the French withdrawal "will modify the security landscape" in Mali and specified that it was in the process of review at the UN.
“We will continue to work with the authorities to try to put a transition back on track on an acceptable timetable, and to solidify the peace agreements,” he added.
A deadly mission
On Monday, the assembly serving as a legislative body since the military coup, endorsed a transition period before elections and a return of civilians to the head of Mali which could last up to five years, a deadline rejected by the UN and a large part of the international community.
The total number of peacekeepers serving with Minusma was 14,163 at the end of December, according to the UN.
Created in 2013 after the outbreak of the separatist and jihadist insurgencies the previous year, the Minusma, with an annual budget of more than 1 billion dollars, is the deadliest mission in the world for blue helmets with more than 150 deaths in hostile acts.
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