In Mali... Armed Groups Warn Against the Withdrawal of UN Forces

An alliance of armed groups in northern Mali has warned that the withdrawal of the United Nations peacekeeping mission from the country would deal a "fatal blow" to the peace agreement and threaten stability throughout the region. The "Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security, and Development" coalition stated in a press release on Wednesday, "The departure of MINUSMA without a reliable alternative will pose a threat to the security of Mali and the entire region." The armed groups that signed the peace agreement remain at odds with the military council, which consolidated power following two military coups in 2020 and 2021. The alliance withdrew from talks in December, stating that it would return to the negotiating table in a neutral country under international mediation. MINUSMA's mandate is set to end on June 30, and discussions to extend it took place before Mali's announcement. Security experts believe that a coordinated withdrawal of the 13,000 troops, along with the equipment, would take at least a year.