Mali: the head of Minusma speaks on the new mandate of the UN force
Minusma men on a mission in northern Mali.
(illustrative image) MINUSMA/Marco Dormino
Text by: David Baché
2 mins
The mandate of Minusma was renewed a little over a week ago.
One more year for the UN peacekeeping mission, which has been supporting the country since 2013, but this renewal took place under more than unusual conditions since the host country, Mali therefore, openly displayed its dissatisfaction and warned that he would not respect certain provisions: those, in particular, on the investigations of the UN mission concerning human rights.
Thursday, July 7, the head of Minusma, the Mauritian El-Ghassim Wane, spoke on the subject to the press.
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Bamako is now saying it officially: there is no longer any question of letting the Minusma go freely to investigate the abuses committed in the country, by jihadist groups or by the Malian army.
In recent months, investigators from the human rights section of the UN mission have not been authorized to go to Moura, nor to several other localities where the Malian army is targeted by allegations of abuse.
Question of national sovereignty, according to Bamako.
"
Our work can only be carried out with the cooperation and support of the Malian authorities,
" explains El-Ghassim Wane, the head of Minusma.
It is therefore up to us, beyond any misunderstandings that may arise, to ensure that this mandate can be implemented effectively and fully.
This is the whole point of the dialogue that we are maintaining with the Malian authorities and I have every hope that we will manage to find the modus vivendi that will allow us to carry out the mandate given to us by the Security Council.
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To read also: The UN renews the mandate of the Minusma for one year, Mali is dissatisfied
Already deployed in the Center since last January, the Russian auxiliaries of the FAMa (Malian Armed Forces) - mercenaries of the Wagner group according to some, simple "instructors" according to others - take position in the bases of the North which the French force Barkhane leaves, the removal of which will be completed by the end of the summer.
For the first time, El-Ghassim Wane comments on this new Russian presence.
“
Two aspects are fundamental: the first, obviously, is to be able to account for all human rights violations, whoever the perpetrators.
And the second important element is linked to the need for freedom of movement to enable us to carry out our mandate, in support of the Malian authorities and in the service of the Malian populations.
»
The Minusma must assess its new context of intervention and its new needs by next January.
Already, El Ghassim Wane is appealing to contributing countries to strengthen its air resources.
We have intensified efforts aimed at mobilizing the missing resources, particularly in terms of helicopters.
We have a crying shortage of both armed and transport helicopters.
And there is a renewed effort to try to mobilize these means from troop and police contributing countries.
I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to all countries in a position to do so to enable us to quickly have these crucial means…
El-Ghassim Wane, head of Minusma
David Bache
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