UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed his deepest gratitude to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) personnel for successful peacekeeping operation in Mali.
The UN peacekeeping operation in Mali is poised to complete its drawdown on Sunday following a decade of multifaceted efforts to support the country.
The Malian authorities had requested earlier this year to end the mission by Dec. 31.
Guterres in a statement by his Spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, also thanked the Head of Mission, El-Ghassum Wane, for providing outstanding leadership in a challenging context.
He paid tribute to the 311 MINUSMA personnel who lost their lives and the more than 700 who were injured in the cause of peace during the 10 years the Mission was deployed in Mali.
Guterres said the entire United Nations family stands in sympathy and solidarity with the loved ones, friends and colleagues of the fallen staff as we remain inspired by their selfless devotion to the cause of peace.
“The UN chief also recognised he key role MINUSMA has played in protecting civilians, the mission’s support to the peace process, including by ensuring respect for the ceasefire in the context of the 2015 peace.
“He also recognised the role they played in reconciliation agreement, as well as to the transition, its efforts towards the restoration of State authority and the provision of peace dividends to the population,” Dujarric said.
According to him, the UN chief reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to work with the Malian people and transitional government towards the restoration of constitutional order, as well as the promotion of peace and security and sustainable development.
The entire UN system, including the 21 agencies, funds and programmes of the Country Team in Mali, in collaboration with the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and the Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel, will continue its support in pursuit of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development in the country.
These efforts include advancing the UN-Government of Mali jointly agreed objectives of the Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2020 to 2024, Dujarric added.
The start of the liquidation period begins on Monday, January 1, 2024.
A smaller team and the rear parties of troop- and police-contributing countries will remain at sites in Gao and Bamako to oversee the orderly transportation of assets and appropriate disposal of UN-owned equipment, the UN spokesperson said.
In this regard, the UN chief is counting on the transitional government’s full cooperation to ensure this process is completed as soon as possible, he added.
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