Germany has rejected the request from the military council in Mali to withdraw United Nations peacekeeping forces from the country, considering that the request for immediate withdrawal is politically motivated. Berlin still desires an organized withdrawal of its troops by May 2024. The unexpected request has raised immediate concerns about further chaos in Mali, where citizens are participating in a referendum today to amend the constitution in order to pave the way for elections and return to civilian rule. Berlin has deployed around 1,000 troops in Mali, mostly near the town of Gao, where their mission focuses on the military reconnaissance for the MINUSMA forces, which number approximately 13,000.
The members of the UN Security Council must adopt a draft resolution to extend the mandate of the MINUSMA international mission by June 30. Passing the draft requires the approval of at least nine members, without any of Russia, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, or France using their veto power. The interim military authorities in Mali submitted the request on Friday, citing a "crisis of confidence" between the country's authorities and the international mission in place for the past ten years, which struggles to protect civilians and its personnel.
