TRANSCRIPT
For the past decade, the United Nations has led a peacekeeping mission in Mali.
Their task was to improve the security of the country amid separatist and jihadist rebellions.
But in June, the 15 member security council voted to end its involvement.
Mali's UN representative Issa Konfourou says the UN forces have never been welcome.
“ MINUSMA'S withdraw whose mandate was poorly adapted to the Malian context, as has been pointed out repeatedly by many members of this organisation, follows a strong demand for the step from Malian populations."
The withdrawal of some 15,000 armed troops and civilian personnel is now underway.
Plans are well advanced to shut down six of the UN mission's bases in northern, north-eastern and central Mali - but it has not been without its own problems.
Earlier this month, four UN soldiers were wounded in an attack on operations to exit the Ber base in the north of the country, while withdrawal operations in other areas have also been targeted.
The United States UN representative, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, says the withdrawal has clearly triggered fresh violence.
"We are alarmed by a resumption of hostilities in northern Mali, including by violations of the ceasefire during the August 11th and 12th clashes at the Bear Camp and by subsequent attacks on a MINUSMA convoy on August 13th. Additionally, MINUSMA's withdrawal limits the ability of the international community to protect civilians from the predations of Wagner, whose activities contribute to greater insecurity in the country."
The presence of the Wagner group has long been a controversial one.
Mali's junta, which seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, teamed up with Wagner that second year.
Al-Jazeera has reported the junta describing the fighters as simply trainers of local troops using equipment bought from Russia, while Western nations believe they are indeed mercenaries.
In 2022, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said there were credible allegations Wagner's activities were linked to destabilisation efforts and human rights abuses.
"We've heard repeated concerns that Wagner and groups that are linked to it manufacture or exploit insecurity, they threaten stability, they undermine good governance, they rob countries of mineral wealth, they violate human rights - and we've heard that and seen that again and again. If you go back to 2017, Wagner forces had deployed to Central African Republic, they've deployed Mozambique, to Mali, to Libya, and at the same time we’ve seen disinformation campaigns that are furthering the exploitative goals that Wagner and its founder have, quite literally, across the continent of Africa."
Russia and Mali have always denied war crimes allegations.
But British representative James Kariuki says something needs to be done to protect Mali's civilians once the UN has left.
"President, we strongly urge the transitional authorities to engage with the UN's proposals for ongoing support for the benefit of the Malian people. The UN should accelerate consultations with Mali on a detailed strategy for the future, review and supports to the peace agreements and other key tasks, including delivering on the political transition and the protection and the promotion of human rights.”
About a thousand fighters with the Wagner group remain stationed in Mali, and despite the death of group leader Yevgeny Progozhin, their involvement will likely continue.
Mali has previously said their agreement was with the Kremlin, and that it was Russia's decision to involve Wagner mercenaries.
eputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy has now told the Security Council Russia is indeed staying put.
"Russia for its part will continue to provide Mali and other interested African partners with comprehensive assistance on a full bilateral, equal and mutual respectful basis."
