Mali : l'ONU envisage de déployer ses Casques bleus

March 28, 2013

French Article Translation of the Week

"Mali : l'ONU envisage de déployer ses Casques bleus"

"Dans un rapport publié le 26 mars, les Nations unies ont fait savoir qu'elles pourraient déployer au Mali une mission de maintien de la paix forte de 11 200 hommes. Cette dernière pourrait être accompagnée d'une "force parallèle" pour combattre les extrémistes islamistes dans le nord du pays."

"In a report published on March 26, the UN stated that they could deploy a peacekeeping mission to Mali 11,200 men strong. The latter could be accompanied by a "parallel power" to fight Islamist extremists in the north."

This article has been translated from French. Click here to read the original version on JeuneAfrique.

In a report Tuesday, March 26, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, proposed the establishment of a "parallel power" in support of the mission of the UN stabilization in Mali.

Ban Ki-moon outlined two options for the 15 member countries of the Security Council. The first is to "strengthen the political mission" of the UN while leaving the Misma, the pan-African force, the task of ensuring security. The Misma would be assisted by "bilateral military efforts in support of the Malian forces." It would have a mission of "offensive and stabilization centered on armed extremist groups".

Alternatively, the major part of the troops composing the Misma "would be transferred into a stabilization mission of the UN" which would also include 1,440 officers. It would be deployed "primarily in the North, with the logistical base either in Sevaré or Gao." The peacekeeping mission will be made up of 11,200 men at most - African forces now in Misma, including the Chadian contingent, could add more units, including Burundi and Mauritania - and could be accompanied by a "parallel power" unspecified in support of its "stabilization mission".

"Given the level and nature of the residual threat, there will definitely be a need for a parallel force operating in Mali (and potentially in the sub-region) alongside the UN mission to conduct major operations and combat terrorism ", says Ban Ki-moon. The presence of this force "will be needed for some time." This requirement suggests that the UN wishes to maintain a French military presence in Mali.

Peacekeepers will be just large enough to secure "areas population considered to be at greatest risk," the report said. Before deploying the peacekeepers, says the text, we must first of all ensure that "the political and security are in place" and consult the Secretary General of the UN for a final decision.

Pessimism

In his report, Ban Ki-moon paints a very pessimistic view of the situation. Even when the territorial integrity of Mali has been fully restored, many risks remain", he says, citing "terrorist attacks, weapons proliferation, drug trafficking and other criminal activities." "I will carefully consider the risks [for peacekeepers]", he said.

"The lagging political process is dangerous," noted the Secretary-General, which suggests that "these conditions are not ripe for holding free and credible elections" in Mali. "Without reconciliation, there is little room for constructive political debate and elections could cause further instability and even violence," he said.

After a one week visit to Mali in mid-March, Edmond Mulet, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations for the UN, had in turn considered "unlikely that elections can be held by July" as expected. In the confidential report of his mission, Edmond Mulet thought that Amadou Sanogo's, former coup leader, continuing influence "will make it more difficult to carry out meaningful reforms." According to him, the UN prepares to face "new threats, never encountered in the context of peacekeeping."