Thread by @annateesch

In #Mali, #MINUSMA is increasingly exposed as Bko furthers its international isolation following dissolution of previous stabilization frameworks:
1) EUTM suspension
2) end of existing international & regional counterterror frameworks (Barkhane+G5).
🧵on events of last week(s)

2/ #Benin announcing its pulling out its troops from #MINUSMA at end of ‘22 & ‘23 respectively, as its facing an increasing insurgency on its own territory. This concerns 250 troops and +130 police units. reuters.com/world/africa/u…

3/ This follows news from March this year that Sweden would also pull out its approx. 200 troops earlier than envisioned already in ’23 reuters.com/world/africa/s…

4/ Back to ’22: Senegalese troops of #MINUSMA are blocked from entering #Mali, as Bamako applies a reciprocity to ECOWAS sanctions apanews.net/mobile/uneInte…

5/ Announced withdrawal from the #G5Sahel also raises questions on the continued presence of the Chadian contingent within the #MINUSMA mission, as highlighted by @NiagaleBagayoko rfi.fr/fr/podcasts/in…

6/ In the meantime, #MINUSMA is apparently prevented from accessing the town of #Djenne in central Mali to secure the weekly market rfi.fr/fr/afrique/202…

7/ Add to this the expansion of the no-fly zone that has been established since mid-January and the resulting expanding territorial zones where #MINUSMA is effectively lacking access to carry out its mandate – as evident in Mourrah. theglobeandmail.com/world/article-…

8/ While incidents like the firing of Malian army on UK MINUSMA troops in April raised additional concerns about future of the mission in current setting thedefensepost.com/2022/04/12/mal…

9/ As #Barkhane retreats, the mission is dependent on additional air capacity - not only in Gao. As highlighted in recent debate on the German mandate extension for the mission, MINUSMA was not yet able to find capacity among troop contributing countries

https://twitter.com/annateesch/status/1524402729925414916?s=20&t=B0__Yq6IaMGWl5egrsS5UQ

10/ Weeks from the mandate discussions in NY, the Malian government has on their part most recently highlighted necessity to redefine the missions role, criticizing the fact that mission mandate does not include active fight against jihadist insurgents agenceecofin.com/breves-gestion…

11/ Am wondering: where do we stand on the discussion how #MINUSMA can deal with this accelerated dynamic in #Mali? What are realistic prospects of continuing its mandate, where are pointers for its adaptation? @RichardGowan1 @PDWilliamsGWU @MichaelShurkin @YGuichaoua @SeDanSmith