In principle, on December 31, 2023, the UN mission in Mali (Minusma) must have left Mali. But in a press release published this Saturday, October 14, the UN affirms that for several weeks, multiple obstacles have prevented it from organizing its withdrawal process from Mali, according to the official timetable.
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With our regional correspondent, Serge Daniel
Among the obstacles preventing the organization of the withdrawal process from Mali, there are in particular the problems of moving convoys of the UN mission in the country. For three weeks, for example, land logistics convoys from Minusma as well as Chadian peacekeepers have been blocked in Gao. They are still waiting for the green light from the Malian government to head to the Kidal region, in order to organize the repatriation of the equipment. In Timbuktu, Minusma convoys are also blocked, again at the request of Bamako, according to internal sources at the mission.
Concern is growing about security in the ranks of the Blue Helmets. In Timbuktu for example, ground protection patrols by UN soldiers around the airport and the Minusma base are now prohibited by the Malian authorities, indicates a well-informed source who continues: “ In violation » of the headquarters agreement between the United Nations and Mali, reconnaissance flights to protect Minusma convoys and installations are systematically refused.
Tensions in the locality of Tessalit
Added to this are new tensions on the ground in the northeast between the Malian army and the rebels of the coalition called Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security and Development (CSP-PSD). It all started with the landing of two planes on Thursday October 12 on the tarmac of the airport in the Malian town of Tessalit. From the aircraft emerge a detachment of the regular army, the Fama, accompanied by several dozen fighters from the Russian paramilitary group Wagner. Everyone is heading towards the camp of the Malian Armed Forces, which is adjacent to that of the UN mission. As soon as the rebels of the coalition called CSP-PSD heard the news, they were on a war footing.
Despite air strikes carried out by the Malian army, they quickly occupied in Tessalit, with their finger on the trigger, three advanced positions already abandoned by Minusma. These positions are located in particular between the town of Tessalit and the Fama-Wagner-Casques bleus camp, with a view of Tessalit airport. The objective stated by the rebels is clear: “ Mainly control part of the airport and shoot down any enemy planes “. The tension is high. The Chadian peacekeepers are trying to delay by retaining for the moment control of the common camp and its main entrances and exits. For their part, the rebels are on the lookout to, they say, take control of the camp as soon as Minusma leaves.
All this therefore hampers the work of the mission on the ground, hence its fear that the difficult working conditions risk preventing its orderly departure on schedule.
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