• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Europe
  4. UK withdraws 300 troops from UN mission in Mali
Europe

UK withdraws 300 troops from UN mission in Mali

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 Nov 2022 22:39

The UK accuses the host country's government of lacking the will to "work with us to deliver lasting stability and security."

  • The UK's Chief of the Defence staff speaks to peacekeepers in Mali earlier this year (Picture: Admiral Sir Tony Radakin/Twitter).
    The UK's Chief of the Defense Staff speaking to peacekeepers in Mali earlier this year (Admiral Sir Tony Radakin/Twitter).

UK Minister of State for the Armed Forces James Heappey told Parliament on Monday that the UK is withdrawing its troops from the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali.

"I can announce that the UK contingent will... now be leaving the MINUSMA mission earlier than planned," Defense Minister James Heappey told parliament, referring to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali.

"Two coups in three years have undermined international efforts to advance peace," he said.

"This government cannot deploy our nation's military to provide security when the host country's government is not willing to work with us to deliver lasting stability and security."

The Minister blamed Mali's relations with the Russian paramilitary organization Wagner group and the latter's alleged interference with the UN's peacekeeping mission.

"The Malian government's partnership with Wagner group is counterproductive to lasting stability and security in their region," he claimed.

Nine months after France announced its withdrawal from Mali, Ministers have finally decided to follow suit.

Yet we lack any UK strategy for the Sahel, which has become a new epicentre for terrorism. Ministers must fill this Sahel shaped-gap in the review of the Integrated Review pic.twitter.com/jzok9MieuN

— John Healey MP (@JohnHealey_MP) November 14, 2022

Heappey further claimed that the troop retreats are in no way signaling that the UK is abandoning its security commitments to the region.

"We've been working closely with our allies to consider options for rebalancing our deployment alongside France, the EU, and other like-minded allies," he told MPs.

On a suspicious note, he added, "The UK will continue its commitment to Mali and the Sahel through our humanitarian, stabilization, and development assistance, working in close coordination with partners," hinting at the possibilities of unwarranted western military intervention. 

Read more: Protests held in Mali over Islamophobic video

Junta authorities initially denied having connections to Wagner's group and later acknowledged logistical support from Russian military "instructors".

In December 2020, the UK deployed 300 troops to Mali as part of a supposed anti-jihadist peacekeeping mission.

They were scheduled to stay for three years, but they now have six months to leave the country as per orders of the ministry.

But this is not the first time that Mali kicks out Western armed forces.

On September 19, the German army announced suspending its patrols in eastern Mali after failing to obtain permission to fly its aircraft.

And on January, Denmark announced it will start pulling its troops out of Mali after the junta ordered them to leave.

Malians have a deep sense of resentment toward the West, because, for years, some of the world's major armed forces roamed the country with the stated goal of fighting off Jihadi forces, yet to no avail. Nothing was actually done on the ground. 

To believe that they were all there for the security and tranquility of the Malians was a indeed deceitful farce. 

As the vast majority of Muslims across the world are convinced that ISIS and Al-Qaeda are a western invention, that resentment is further intensified in Mali after years of failing to contain the insurgencies, prompting Mali, as well as several other African nations, to turn to Russia for prompt support.

Read more: Mali, Burkina Faso leaders agree to strengthen military cooperation

Earlier this year, it was announced that Mali had kicked out French Barkhane troops from its territory. 

The reasons were plenty but mainly involved the French getting caught conducting operations of espionage and sabotage by Junta forces. 

On October 19, Mali's Foreign Affairs Minister Abdoulaye Diop said the military government will exercise its right to self-defense if France continues to undermine the country's territorial sovereignty and security.

Diop doubly accused France of violating Malian airspace and delivering weapons to Islamist militants that have been crippling the country for the past decade, which France has denied.

The Minister also denied allegations of violations of human rights by the Malian army, which were reported by the UN and other groups.

Malian soldiers were accused of torturing and killing civilians that were suspected to be in contact with jihadists.

Calling the allegations "unfounded" and warning against "instrumentalizing" human rights issues, Diop stressed that the withdrawal of foreign troops will not trigger a security vacuum.

Read more: Russia, Mali reaffirm strengthening security cooperation in Sahel

  • United Nations
  • Mali
  • Ukraine
  • MINUSMA

Trending Now

All
Germans soldiers on the route from Gao to Gossi, Mali. (Photo: Seyllou/AFP/Getty Images)

Germany to pull troops from UN Mali mission by May

Most Read

London posts job ad for mercenaries for Ukraine counteroffensive

London posts job ad for mercenaries for Ukraine's counteroffensive

  • Africa
  • 24 May
The Middle East Stabilises, Against the Backdrop of a Great Unravelling

The Middle East Stabilises, Against the Backdrop of a Great Unravelling

  • Analysis
  • 28 May
In this image released by the Italian firefighters, a helicopter searches for missing passengers after a tourist boat capsized in a storm on Italy's Lago Maggiore in the northern Lombardy region, May 28, 2023 (AP)

Top Israeli intelligence official dead in Italy: Israeli media

  • Europe
  • 29 May
The domestically produced C919 passenger jet flies at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, Peoeple's Republic of China, 8 November 2022. (Reuters)

China is set to launch first commercial flight on its C919 plane

  • Asia
  • 26 May

Read this

All
Chief of the Australian Defence Force Gen. Angus Campbell bites his lips while delivering the findings from the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force Afghanistan Inquiry, in Canberra, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. (AP)
Asia Pacific

Australian Defense bans drinking while deployed due to war crimes

  • 30 May
Elon Musk
Asia

Musk in China, Tesla to continue expanding business with Asian giant

  • 30 May
The US Treasury Building is viewed in Washington, US on May 4, 2021. (AP)
US & Canada

US issues new sanctions on Syria, targets two money service businesses

  • 30 May
Casualties in Ukraine strike on evacuee housing centers in Belgorod
Europe

Casualties in Ukraine strike on evacuee housing center in Belgorod

  • 30 May
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS