In Mali, the mandate of the UN mission must be renewed at the end of the month, no change is expected in the form of this peacekeeping operation, but the announcement of the end of the French operation Barkhane is in everyone’s minds. Minusma did not respond to the announcement of the end of Barkhane, officially the mission still shows “assess the possible consequences” of this withdrawal. But outside the microphone, peacekeepers do not hide their concerns.
“In some areas, Barkhane’s presence alone is a deterrent,” explains a UN military official, “and when we are hit by major attacks, they are the ones defending us.”
In April, when the Aguelhoc camp in the Kidal region was attacked by hundreds of jihadists, it was the intervention of French aircraft that reversed the trend. And the examples are not lacking, recalls this officer in Timbuktu, who, without despising his own house, declares that “French strength, power, sensitivity, professionalism and cohesion” are valuable resources that will be lacking in the event of an emergency.
“French withdrawal leaves the field free for jihadists”
He and another UN officer, based in Mopti, also provoke the exchange of information and fear that the information that other partners, regional or European, may provide is not at the same level.
Finally, and above all, it is the network that worries: “They will leave a void, laments a general from the UN force stationed in the north.” “Barkhane controls the zone, it is a moving force that hinders the movements of the jihadists,” the Timbuktu peacekeeper said. According to him, “the G5 will not have the same level, Takuba is conducting targeted and one-off operations, so the French withdrawal will leave the field free for the jihadists”, he predicts without hiding his pessimism. “They will spread over more area, and wherever they go once a month they can come three times.[…]the peoples will be more subject to their law ”.
The French Barkhane force and the Minusma peacekeepers do not work together: the first has an offensive purpose in fighting terrorism, intelligence and attack, while the second is in Mali to ensure peacekeeping, with a simple capacity response and response, although it may be robust. But they collaborate, especially to share information, and above all share the same fields of action and the same enemies. So far, the UN mission has not responded to the announcement that the Barkhane force has been withdrawn and still states “assess the possible consequences”.
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