Mali's UN Peacekeeper Mission Ends, Wagner Gains Momentum
The UN Security Council is set to terminate the peacekeeping force in Mali, despite the country's ongoing security crisis. Mali's military regime insists that the 12,000 international troops must depart, leaving the country more dependent on the Russian mercenary group Wagner for security. However, questions remain about Wagner's effectiveness in fighting militants, and its hard-line approach could further alienate local communities. The withdrawal of the UN mission could accelerate the activities of jihadist groups and worsen the already dire conditions in Mali, with closed schools, disrupted economic life, and absence of basic public services. The military regime in Mali is demanding a more aggressive anti-terrorist role from the UN force, but the UN troops have had a peacekeeping mandate. The breakdown in relations between Mali and the UN, as well as several Western governments, has soured trust and resentment. While the military regime may benefit from the departure of the UN force, ordinary Malians, particularly in the fragile center and north, may miss the containment and stability provided by the peacekeepers.