Mali UN mission faces uncertainty amid troops' exit

As strong nations who sent troops for Mali's UN peacekeeping mission (Minusma) begin to withdraw their own forces, the mission faces collapse.

In light of the ongoing ramifications from the use of Russian mercenaries, Germany is the most recent nation to announce that its 1,000 peacekeepers will depart the Sahel nation by May 2024.

Given that Mali intends to hold interim elections in February 2024, Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht gave the assurance that it will be a calm exit.

The UK, Cote d'Ivoire, and Benin also plan to reduce their military presences over the course of the following year, while Egypt halted operations permanently.

Since the military junta headed by Col. Assimi Goita took control in August 2020, relations between Mali and its Western allies have gotten worse.

Bamako has gradually shifted its allegiance to Moscow, which prompted France, Mali's longtime security ally, to hastily withdraw hundreds of troops in August, ending nearly ten years of military cooperation.

The largest and deadliest mission run by the UN is Minusma, which has 12,000 troops in Mali since 2013. Attacks by members of al-Qaeda and the Islamic State frequently result in the deaths or injuries of peacekeepers.

Public demonstrations calling for the removal of foreign soldiers endanger operations by the UN forces, while antagonism by Malian officials thwarts efforts to stabilize the country.

The expanding security void is giving jihadist extremists more confidence, which is encouraging more fatal strikes against Mali's battered army and the spread of unrest to surrounding nations.