Since October 31, Minusma, the United Nations mission in Mali, has begun its withdrawal from the country. Unfortunately, this withdrawal is not without risks, as the peacekeepers unfortunately experienced during the latest convoy. Departing from the town of Kidal, this convoy was the victim of three attacks with improvised explosive devices, one of which was claimed by the jihadist group Jnim.
The peacekeepers represent an international force made up of soldiers from countries such as Chad, Guinea, Egypt, Nepal and Bangladesh. Their mission is to ensure security and stability in Mali. Unfortunately, during their withdrawal, they had already suffered several attacks, which resulted in eight injuries, including one in serious condition. Some Minusma personnel, mainly civilians, managed to leave Kidal by plane, but not all requests for authorization were granted.
Faced with this dangerous situation, Minusma made a request to the Malian authorities to benefit from authorizations to fly over the land convoy. This would allow Minusma surveillance planes to fly over the convoy in real time, with the aim of dissuading jihadist groups from laying homemade mines and allowing immediate intervention in the event of an incident. Unfortunately, so far these requests have been rejected by the Malian army, which has not given clear explanations on this subject.
It is important to emphasize that this route taken by the convoy is long and extends several hundred kilometers to Gao. The Malian authorities therefore have the power to improve the peacekeepers’ chances of survival by granting these overflight authorizations. Unfortunately, the situation remains difficult, especially since Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries from the Wagner company are stationed in the Anéfis area, located about a hundred kilometers south of Kidal.
In a context where the security situation in Mali remains fragile, it is essential to support and protect the peacekeepers of Minusma, who work daily to ensure peace and security in the country. By granting the requested overflight authorizations, the Malian authorities could help guarantee the security of these international forces and facilitate their withdrawal from the country. Let us hope that measures will be taken quickly to respond to this legitimate request and ensure the safety of Minusma peacekeepers during this delicate period.