The United Nations announced on Wednesday that over 460 Egyptian soldiers, who had participated in a 10-year peacekeeping mission in Mali, have left the country. This comes as the UN mission initiates its withdrawal process, expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The UN further stated that forces from Senegal, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Bangladesh, among the largest contributors to the mission, will also depart in the coming days.
Meanwhile, tensions in Mali remain high following the International Security Council’s vote to accept Bamako’s request to end the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). The vote occurred 12 days after the country held a referendum on a constitution opposed by opposition forces, posing a threat to an already fragile security situation.
The Security Council terminated on Fridaythe UN mission, setting a six-month timeline for its completion, after the Malian Foreign Minister urgently requested its immediate withdrawal, blaming the mission for failures and exacerbating sectarian tensions.
The departure of Egyptian soldiers marks the beginning of a notable phase in MINUSMA’s winding down, posing new challenges and responsibilities for the remaining contributing nations and the UN itself.