The military regime in Mali has forced the removal of peacekeeping forces mainly from France but also from Sweden.
Even the UN peacekeeping mission Minusma is being forced out of Mali by the military government and its foreign minister Abdoulaye Diop. Instead, Mali’s government has previously purged paramilitary forces from the Russian Wagner Group – then led by Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Wagner forces are believed to still be operating in Mali.
Russian UN Ambassador Vasiliy Nebenzia explains the Russian veto:
“Despite the fact that we have repeatedly called for a constructive stance and a sensible compromise, (the resolution proposal) does not address Mali’s concerns or Russia’s position,” said the ambassador.
Russia, like the four other permanent members of the UN Security Council France, Britain, the US and China, can completely block a resolution by veto. The Security Council consists of 15 member states.