Russia, an ally of Bamako, vetoed on Wednesday a UN Security Council resolution extending sanctions against Malians threatening peace in the country, which the Malian junta called for the lifting.
The resolution which would extend for a year the sanctions regime put in place in 2017 against individuals endangering the 2015 peace agreement, and the mandate of the committee of experts responsible for monitoring them, garnered 13 votes in favour, one abstention (China) and one vote against (Russia).
Russia agreed to extend the sanctions, but only one last time, and above all wanted to dissolve the committee of experts whose objectivity it disputes with Bamako. His resolution to this effect was rejected, with one vote for, one against and 13 abstentions.
“Systemic” violence
The latest report by the committee of experts published last week questioned in particular the violence against women perpetrated in a “systematic and organized” manner by the Malian armed forces and their “foreign security partners”, presumed to be members of the Russian group. Wagner.
This sanctions regime (freeze of assets or travel ban) had been put in place in 2017 and concerned eight individuals, in particular leaders of groups signatories to the 2015 peace agreement accused of putting it in danger.
These sanctions had been demanded by the Malian government at the time, but the junta in power today is calling for them to be lifted.
“Paralysis” of the application of the peace agreement
“The reason behind the Malian request to set up this mechanism has ceased to exist”, assured Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdoulaye Diop in mid-August in a letter addressed to the Security Council, declaring that the “belligerence between the signatory movements” had “ended”.
But in its latest report, the committee of experts noted the “paralysis” of the application of the 2015 peace agreement. Highlighting “the rise in tensions” among the groups that signed the agreement, it also worried reports that some of these groups were arming themselves in the face of what they perceived to be threats from the Malian armed forces.
Concerns reinforced by the committed withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali (Minusma), demanded by Bamako.