2023-06-15 11:14:50
The UN mission in Mali recently published 2e quarterly report of the year. According to this document, at least a thousand civilians have been killed in less than a year and major constraints related to the execution of the mandate of Minusma.
In the quarterly report of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (Minusma), it is indicated that the security situation is worrying on almost all of Malian territory, particularly in the North and the center of the country. In the regions located in the north-west of Mali such as Gao and Ménaka, the fighting is due to abuses committed by the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS) which is trying to extend its influence to its area of control. Also, in central Mali, groups affiliated with the Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin group close to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) remained a significant threat, as evidenced by the complex attacks perpetrated in Sevared April 22. In addition, the targeting of state facilities, such as customs posts and forestry posts, by extremists also continued in the south and west of the country.
According to the Minusma, between the 1is July 2022 and May 22, 2023, 1,002 civilians were killed and 445 others injured due to armed conflict, detonation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and criminal acts.
However, this figure marks a decrease compared to the 1,556 dead and 530 injured civilians who had been deplored for the period from 1is July 2021 to June 30, 2022. According to the mission, this drop in the number of civilian casualties can be attributed to the pressure exerted by the military operations of the Malian Armed Forces on extremist groups as well as to a change in tactics on the part of these groups. the latter (the latter having notably decided to issue ultimatums to the inhabitants before attacking in order to make them leave the premises).
Moreover, it also appears that the violence committed against civilians in the second quarter of this year is primarily the work of extremist groups, then self-defense groups and armed militias, as well as armed groups that have signed the Agreement resulting from the Algiers process. Several cases of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law have been reported during operations of the Malian Armed Forces. The Minusma confirmed 132 human rights violations and abuses. Which made a balance sheet of 89 people killed, 31 injured and 12 victims of kidnapping or enforced disappearance.
IEDs continue to pose a threat to peacekeepers
According to Minusma, the use of improvised explosive devices continued to pose a serious threat to the security of peacekeepers and hamper their mobility. Between 1is July 2022 and May 11, 2023, a total of 33 improvised explosive device attacks, resulting in 9 deaths and 33 serious injuries among peacekeepers, were reported.
During the second quarter of this year, the humanitarian situation remained alarming. Humanitarian organizations working under the UN-coordinated humanitarian response plan have estimated that in 2023, 8.8 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection in the country, an increase of 17% compared to the previous year. The most pressing needs are concentrated in certain parts of the regions of Mopti, Timbuktu, Gao, Kidal and Ménaka.
As of 30 April, the total number of people displaced by the conflict was estimated at 375,539, a decrease of 8.9% compared to the figure of 412,387 recorded in December 2022. The regions in the center of the country such as Bandiagara, Douentza, Mopti, San and Ségou are the most affected by this situation insofar as there were a total of 208,210 displaced persons (55%). As for the 151,384 other displaced persons (40%), they are registered in the regions of Gao, Kidal Ménaka and Timbuktu.
Worsening security conditions in the regions of Kidal and Ménaka resulted in an increase in displacement, while in Mopti and Ségou the relative improvement in the situation reduced the numbers. However, in Mopti and Ségou regions alone, more than 3 million people needed humanitarian assistance, up from 2.8 million in 2022. In all, $751.5 million has been requested under the plan. response plan for 2023, to help 5.7 million people in the country. As of May 19, only $82.9 million had been received from donors, or 11% of the amount requested.
Difficulties in carrying out his mission
The Minusma still faces many constraints that prevent it from effectively accomplishing its tasks. These include the departure of several troop- and police-contributing countries, the emergence of constraints related to the use of air assets for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance purposes and the unavailability, since July 2022, three of the four combat companies specializing in accompanying convoys. In addition, the mobility of its blue helmets has been considerably reduced due to tensions with the transitional authorities in relation to certain tasks such as human rights investigations. So many challenges that make his future in Mali more than ever compromised on the eve of the renewal of his mandate scheduled for the end of this month.
MD/ac/APA
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