UN Peacekeeping Mission in Mali Officially Ends After 11 Years

AFRICAN BUSINESS AND ECONOMYNovember 18, 2024 at 2:29 PM UTC

TLDR

UN Mission in Mali (Minusma) to hand over base in Bamako to Mali's junta government following Security Council resolution
Mali's military junta, led by General Assimi Goita, demands departure of peacekeepers, shifts alliances towards Russia
European forces and UN mission withdrawing as Mali's junta strengthens ties with Russia and deploys Wagner Group mercenaries

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (Minusma) will officially hand over its primary base in the capital, Bamako, to Mali’s junta government, according to a UN spokesperson.

This follows the UN Security Council’s June 2023 resolution to end the 13,000-strong peacekeeping mission, which had been in place since 2013 to combat Islamist insurgencies linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

Mali’s military junta, which seized power in 2020 under General Assimi Goita, demanded the peacekeepers’ departure, citing mistrust. The junta has since pivoted away from Western alliances, forging closer ties with Russia and deploying mercenaries from the Kremlin-linked Wagner Group, prompting a withdrawal of European forces and the UN mission.

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Key Takeaways

The departure of Minusma signals Mali’s shift toward Russian-backed security strategies under military rule. While the junta cites dissatisfaction with previous foreign interventions, the Islamist insurgency remains a critical challenge. As the country transitions to self-managed security bolstered by Wagner Group forces, questions linger about its ability to stabilize and secure the region independently.

Mali

United Nations

Peacekeeping

Economy

Minusma