The “the malign presence” of Russia's mercenary army, the Wagner Group, in Mali can no longer be ignored, Britain told the UN Security Council on Tuesday, a day after four peacekeepers were killed in the West African nation.
No group has claimed responsibility for Monday's attack, in which four blue helmets from Chad died in a blast while they were conducting a mine-detection patrol.
Wagner — a network providing fighters for hire that was founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin — has been allowed to operate in Mali despite evidence gathered by the UN pointing to its involvement in widespread human rights abuses.
The UK's deputy ambassador to the UN, James Kariuki, told the Security Council that the world body's independent expert on human rights in Mali had reported abuses committed by Malian forces alongside “foreign military personnel described as Russian military officials”.
“Without accountability and justice, trust cannot be rebuilt and grievances will endure,” he said.
At least 174 peacekeepers have been killed in hostile acts in Mali since the start of the mission in 2013, making it the world's deadliest ongoing UN peacekeeping mission.
Mr Kariuki questioned Mali's commitment to working with the UN and urged Bamako to grant peacekeeping troops unrestricted access to independently investigate allegations of human rights abuses.
“We urge the authorities to work constructively with the mission, lifting restrictions and facilitating the vital work of peacekeepers,” he said.
US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated that Wagner will not bring peace to Mali, only exploitation and instability.
“Human rights abuses and violations in the name of counter-terrorism operations only deepen mistrust of state authorities and they play into the hands of violent extremist groups, who recruit among the aggrieved and disillusioned,” she said.
Anti-UN sentiment has been increasing in the African nation.
In late September, hundreds of Malians marched in Bamako against the UN peacekeeping mission Minusma — the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali.
The protesters waved Malian and Russian flags, chanted anti-UN slogans and accused Minusma of undermining Mali's sovereign.
Security concerns across the country have only deepened as groups with links to Al Qaeda and ISIS expanded their operations after the French military withdrew its troops in August.
Minusma was deployed in 2013 to shore up the turbulent Sahel state, where fighting has claimed thousands of lives and uprooted hundreds of thousands from their homes.
When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
The biog
Title: General Practitioner with a speciality in cardiology
Previous jobs: Worked in well-known hospitals Jaslok and Breach Candy in Mumbai, India
Education: Medical degree from the Government Medical College in Nagpur
How it all began: opened his first clinic in Ajman in 1993
Family: a 90-year-old mother, wife and two daughters
Remembers a time when medicines from India were purchased per kilo
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
UAE cricketers abroad
Sid Jhurani is not the first cricketer from the UAE to go to the UK to try his luck.
Rameez Shahzad Played alongside Ben Stokes and Liam Plunkett in Durham while he was studying there. He also played club cricket as an overseas professional, but his time in the UK stunted his UAE career. The batsman went a decade without playing for the national team.
Yodhin Punja The seam bowler was named in the UAE’s extended World Cup squad in 2015 despite being just 15 at the time. He made his senior UAE debut aged 16, and subsequently took up a scholarship at Claremont High School in the south of England.
ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA
Asia Cup Qualifier
Venue: Kuala Lumpur
Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September
Fixtures:
Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman
Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal
Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore
Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu Sep 6: Final
Asia Cup
Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Schedule: Sep 15-28
Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier
