The United Nations Security Council is convening today, Monday, August 28th, in New York to address the escalating situation in Mali. On Friday, a report by UN experts raised alarm over the deteriorating security conditions and the worsening incidents of violence against women by the Malian armed forces and their alleged Russian allies.
“The violence against women and girls, along with conflict-related sexual violence, continue to be rampant in Mali,” express the UN experts, who specifically implicate the Malian armed forces and their “foreign security partners,” suspected to be the Wagner Group. The report denounces this as a sign of “systematic and organized” violence aimed at “instilling terror among populations.” The description also voices broader concerns about the worsening security situation in Mali.
Concerns Mount over Minusma Withdrawal
The experts observe that some armed groups signatories to the Algiers Peace Agreement are currently reneging on their commitment and their fighters are joining terrorist armed groups. “In less than a year, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) has nearly doubled the territory under its control.” Meanwhile, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), affiliated with Al-Qaeda, now asserts itself as “the sole actor capable of protecting populations.”
Against this backdrop, the UN experts express concerns that the withdrawal of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (Minusma), as demanded by Bamako authorities, could further jeopardize an already fragile peace agreement.
Artillery Strike in Timbuktu
On Saturday, a very young child was killed, and at least two other individuals were wounded in an artillery strike on Timbuktu, as reported by local authorities and a hospital source. The Malian army states that four injured civilians were evacuated to the hospital, attributing the strikes to armed terrorist groups.
In light of these developments, it becomes evident that Mali is grappling with an intricate web of security challenges that demand urgent attention and decisive action from both domestic and international stakeholders. The UN Security Council’s meeting today underscores the gravity of the situation and the imperative for concerted efforts to restore stability, protect vulnerable populations, and sustain the hard-won gains of the peace agreement.