The Security Council met on June 13, 2022 to discuss the situation, while the members of the Council will have to decide by the end of the month on the renewal of the mandate of Minusma, and that the United Nations fears an attack jihadist. Abdoulaye Diop, the Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs, came to defend the decisions of the transitional government.
With our correspondent in New York, Carrie Nooten
UN envoy to Mali is certain: since the beginning of the year, the situation has been deteriorating in the area of the three borders, at the junction of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. And this, while the French Barkhane and European Takuba forces are redeploying.
He says local authorities fear a jihadist attack could well occur against the town of Ménaka, in the north-west of the country. However, on the spot, the 600 peacekeepers of the Minusma would not be enough to organize an effective response, even supported by the local Malian forces, too few in the region.
End of French air support
While this Monday, June 13, the French army left Ménaka military base, France has offered to continue its air support to the Minusma, from the outside. But Abdoulaye Diop categorically opposed it, promising that Mali would protect peacekeepers on its soil. Russia, Bamako’s main ally, defended the Malian position.
The United States has demanded that Mali stop its restrictions on Minusma planes. A request repeated in private by the American ambassador to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
►Also read: Mali: the authorities further restrict the scope of action of the Minusma