Mali’s Foreign Minister, Abdoulaye Diop, has called for a fundamental rethink of how United Nations peacekeeping missions operate, citing serious shortcomings during the decade-long deployment of UN forces in Mali.
Speaking at the United Nations Ministerial Conference on Peacekeeping in Berlin, Diop criticized the mismatch between peacekeeping mandates and the realities on the ground, a lack of coordination with host governments, and the political misuse of human rights discourse.
Drawing on Mali’s experience with the now-concluded MINUSMA mission, Diop stated that peacekeepers were often ill-equipped to respond to the country’s asymmetric security challenges.
He also expressed deep frustration over the UN’s communication practices, noting that Malian authorities were sometimes informed of UN activities through media reports.
Another major concern raised by the minister was the imbalance in resource allocation. While MINUSMA reportedly received over $1.3 billion annually, Diop pointed out that very little of that went toward strengthening Mali’s own security institutions.
The foreign minister further criticized the use of human rights reporting for political purposes, accusing certain UN missions of producing biased narratives that worsened diplomatic tensions. He also condemned the continued practice of allowing former colonial powers to draft UN resolutions affecting African states, calling it an outdated and condescending approach.
Despite his criticisms, Diop reaffirmed Mali’s belief in the importance of international peacekeeping – provided it evolves to become more collaborative, transparent, and responsive to the needs of host nations.
Mali requested the withdrawal of the UN mission in 2023, citing mounting frustration and lack of impact. MINUSMA completed its phased withdrawal later that year, bringing an end to its presence in the country after ten years.
