At least 22 UN peacekeepers injured in retreat from northern Mali base
Al JazeeraOct 31, 2023
The Facts
The UN stabilization mission in Mali, MINUSMA, took down the UN flag at its headquarters in Bamako on Monday, officially ending its ten-year mission in the country, according to its spokesperson. The move was requested by Mali's military government earlier this year.
MINUSMA chief El Ghassim Wane announced at the symbolic ceremony that the withdrawal date of Jan. 1 would be followed by a "liquidation phase," including the handover of remaining equipment to the authorities. He also voiced satisfaction with what the mission "could reasonably achieve" in the crisis-ridden country.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The Malian junta's claim that MINUSMA was a failure is false, as its mandate was not to recapture territory lost to the Islamists, but to strengthen the Malian army's capabilities in the fight against the extremists. Moreover, the UN stabilization mission acted as a mediator between some rebel groups and the military junta in Bamako to lay the foundations for lasting peace. MINUSMA has been a success, and the military government in Bamako kicking France and the UN out of the country is irresponsible — Mali is not yet in a position to ensure the country's security on its own.
Establishment-critical narrative
While the UN is claiming its ten-year presence to be a success, Mali's security situation has continued to deteriorate. Remarkably, it was only after MINUSMA pulled out of one of its bases in the north that the Malian government was able to achieve a major strategic victory against separatist rebels. That this was achieved with the support of Russia's Wagner Group is further proof that Bamako's move to seek new allies was right. The fact that MINUSMA is following France's example and has officially ended its Mali mission will help restore Mali's stability.
