Musings From Abroad

Mali’s junta expels UN peacekeeping force

Published

2 years ago

June 17, 2023

The military junta of Mali has ordered the expulsion of a United Nations peacekeeping force “without delay”, over a “crisis of confidence” between it and the United Nations mission known as MINUSMA.

MINUSMA was deployed by the UN Security Council in 2013 to support foreign and local efforts to restore stability following the rise of Islamist insurgents in the West African country.

Mali’s Foreign Minister, Abdoulaye Diop told a 15-member council that “unfortunately, MINUSMA seems to have become a part of the problem in fuelling inter-community tensions.” “This situation is begetting mistrust among the Malian population and also causing a crisis of confidence between Malian authorities and MINUSMA,” he said, adding, “The Malian government asks for the withdrawal, without delay, of MINUSMA.”

With MINUSMA, there are about 12,000 military personnel stationed in the country. Egypt, Chad, and Bangladesh, are the three nations that account for the most soldiers in the mission. Under the current junta led by Colonel Goita,

Mali has a history of severing diplomatic ties with allies, purportedly because the government chose to work with the Wagner Group, a private military contractor with ties to the Kremlin, to bolster its campaign against terrorists. Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s UN ambassador, stated before the council on Friday that the peacekeeping mission could only be successful if there was “extremely tight coordination with the host country and respect for Mali’s sovereignty.”

“The real issue is not the number of peacekeepers but the functions, and one of the key tasks for the government of Mali is fighting terrorism, which is not provided for in the mandate of the blue helmets,” Nebenzia added.

Meanwhile, French U.N. Ambassador, Nicolas de Riviere said that a UN report to the council had stated that despite dialogue between MINUSMA and the Malian authorities, UN peacekeepers were still being impeded in their movements.

“Since the arrival of Wagner in Mali this restriction has only increased as have serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law,” de Riviere said. Presidential elections are scheduled for February 4, 2024, for the transition to civil rule.

Musings From Abroad

Swiss company Mercuria partners Zambia’s IDC in new metals trading firm

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by Swiss commodities trader, Mercuria, on Thursday, it has established a metals trading arm with Zambia, the second-largest producer of copper in Africa.

The trading unit is jointly owned by Mercuria and an arm of Zambia’s Industrial Development Company (IDC), and its purpose is to allow Zambia to engage directly in the minerals trading market.

The joint venture “envisages the establishment of a vehicle to market and trade Zambian copper by mutual leverage,” according to a statement from Cornwell Muleya, the CEO of IDC.

The southern African nation wants to increase copper output to roughly 3 million metric tonnes within the next ten years, and in 2023, it produced roughly 698,000 tonnes of copper, down from 763,000 metric tonnes the year before.

In June, the Zambian government announced that it would establish a minerals trading unit.

Investors including First Quantum Minerals and Barrick Gold are ramping up production, with output set to receive a further boost once Vedanta Resources’ Konkola Copper Mines restart activity.

“Our joint venture with IDC marks a significant milestone for Zambia as it positions itself more strategically in the global minerals market,” Kostas Bintas, Mercuria’s global head of metals and minerals, said in the statement.

Musings From Abroad

Blinken to reveal UN Sudan funding additions

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Additional financing for humanitarian aid to Sudan and initiatives to strengthen civil society in the nation, where a conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, will be announced by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the United Nations on Thursday.

Blinken will make many announcements when he leads a UN Security Council meeting on Sudan on Thursday, which will centre on humanitarian aid and civilian protection, Deputy U.S. Representative to the UN Ned Price told reporters on Wednesday.

According to Price, the announcements would include more money for humanitarian help, initiatives to strengthen civil society, and the return of democracy.

“Sudan, unfortunately, has risked becoming a forgotten conflict,” Price said.

“So part of the reason the secretary … opted to convene a signature event on this very topic is to make sure it remains in the spotlight,” Price said.

For almost 18 months, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and Sudan’s army have been engaged in combat, resulting in a severe humanitarian crisis that has forced over 12 million people from their homes and made it difficult for U.N. organisations to provide aid.

A power struggle between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces preceded a planned shift to civilian administration, which sparked the conflict in April 2023.

Although the army declined to join this year’s U.S.-mediated peace negotiations in Geneva, the warring parties did pledge to increase assistance access, which prevented any movement towards a ceasefire.

Price stated that before President Joe Biden’s term ends next month, the United States would keep collaborating with allies to enhance humanitarian access in Sudan and eventually end hostilities.

“We are going to leave nothing on the field in our efforts to work with allies, with partners, with the Sudanese stakeholders themselves, on the issues that matter most – humanitarian access, the provision of humanitarian assistance, ultimately, the process by which we can work to get to a cessation of hostilities, which is most urgently needed,” he said.