The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution to end a decade-long peacekeeping mission in Mali after the West African country's junta abruptly asked the force to leave earlier this month.
The dismantling of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission (Minusma) in Mali will begin on July 1, with “the cessation of its operations, transfer of its tasks, as well as the orderly and safe drawdown and withdrawal of its personnel” to be concluded by the end of the year.
The vote followed Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop's demand on June 16 that the UN immediately withdraw peacekeepers from the country, calling Minusma a “failure”.
The French-drafted resolution calls on the transitional government of Mali to “co-operate fully with the United Nations during Minusma’s drawdown, withdrawal and liquidation to ensure the orderly and safe withdrawal of the mission”.
While the three African members on the Security Council – Ghana, Mozambique and Gabon – welcomed the end of the peacekeeping mission, the US warned the transitional government's decision to abandon Minusma would bring “harm” to the Malian people.
The Malian armed forces are collaborating with the Russia-backed Wagner Group, the mercenaries heavily involved in the war in Ukraine who engaged in a mutiny against Moscow last week, to help them tackle terror groups in the country.
UK ambassador to the UN, Barbara Woodward, stressed that Mali's partnership with the Wagner Group would not “deliver long term stability or security” for the Malian people.
The US accused Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin of helping to engineer the departure of UN peacekeepers from Mali.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Friday that Washington has information indicating Mali's transitional government has paid more than $200 million to Wagner since late 2021.
Relations between the UN and Mali's military leaders have been steadily deteriorating since the junta took power following two coups in 2020 and 2021.
Mali's military has increasingly imposed operational restrictions on the UN peacekeepers. They were also angered by a UN report in May that accused the army and “armed white men” of killing 500 civilians in the town of Moura last year.
The 13,000-strong mission was sent to Mali by the Security Council in 2013 to support efforts to restore stability in the country after al Qaeda-linked insurgents took over parts of the North in 2012.
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
'Nope'
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6 UNDERGROUND
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco
2.5 / 5 stars
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
The Two Popes
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce
Four out of five stars
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ACL Elite (West) - fixtures
Monday, Sept 30
Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)
Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)
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Match info
Uefa Champions League Group H
Manchester United v Young Boys, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
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Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
