The 13,000-strong force is to take over from African-led troops fighting rebels in the north.
The Security Council yesterday, April 25, 2013 adopted a resolution authorising the deployment of almost 13,000 United Nations troops to Mali to take over from the African Peacekeeping Mission, Afisma, currently helping to secure the north of the country after the rebel takeover over of last year.
The main objective of the force is to help restore democracy and keep at bay rebels who earlier this year were chased from northern towns by French, Malian and Chadian troops, Radio France Internationale, RFI said. The resolution authorises French troops to - at the request of U.N. Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon - intervene to support U.N. troops under imminent or serious threat. The document makes no mention of counter-terrorism operations by the force. France is currently carrying out such operations and is likely to continue doing so under an agreement with the Malian government.
According to the Associated Press news agency, the mandate of the U.N. force is to stabilise key population centres in the north, support the re-establishment of government authority throughout the country, and assist the transitional authorities in restoring constitutional order, democratic governance and national unity. The mission is to take steps to prevent the return of armed men to the north. U.N. peacekeepers would also help in rebuilding the Malian police, disarming and demobilising former combatants.
The Security Council will review the deployment date within 60 days to assess whether terrorists pose a major threat in areas where the U.N. troops would operate or if international military forces are conducting major combat operations in those areas. If so, the Council could delay the deployment. Apart from peacekeeping, the Security Council has insisted on the holding of serious dialogue between the Malian government and people in the north. The Council is of the opinion that the absence of such dialogue is the main cause of Mali’s problems today.
The UN peacekeeping mission will comprise 11,200 military personnel and 1,440 international police. They are expected to take over from the 6,000-member African-led mission on July 1, 2013.
