DAKAR (Reuters) – The United Nations’ peacekeeping mission in Mali has grounded its flights amid discussions over sanctions which have shut air and land borders to the West African nation.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the regional financial union sanctioned Mali final week after its interim authorities, put in in the wake of coups in 2020 and 2021, proposed delaying deliberate elections by as much as 4 years.
“MINUSMA has to quickly droop all flights. We are in dialogue with our Malian companions on the brand new mechanism for approving MINUSMA flights,” a spokesperson mentioned, including that he anticipated a decision “in a short time”.
MINUSMA has over 13,000 troops making an attempt to include violence in the north and centre of the massive West African nation, the place Islamist teams linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State perform common assaults on civilians, troopers and U.N. bases.
Delivery of support may also be hindered, the spokesperson mentioned.
The mission has recorded about 230 fatalities since 2013, making it the deadliest of the United Nations’ peacekeeping missions.
(Reporting By Edward McAllister; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
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