By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Britain has said it will withdraw its 300 troops who are part of the ongoing UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, accusing the country’s military junta of collaborating with private contractors belonging to Russia’s Wagner Group.
This follows similar withdrawal by other Western nations from the West African country.
“This government cannot deploy our nation’s military to provide security when the host countries government is not willing to work with us to deliver lasting stability and security,” British Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said on Monday.
France and its military allies had began withdrawing thousands of troops from Mali this year.
The Western withdrawals from Mali this year have caused fears among diplomats that this could increase violence, destabilise neighbours and embolden jihadists.
Heappey told parliament recent coups in Mali had undermined international efforts to help bring peace in the country, which has seen growing violence in recent years by groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State.
The Malian’s government’s partnership with Wagner, which has also been linked to human rights abuses, was counterproductive to security in the region, he added.
Heappey said Britain’s commitment to West Africa and UN work in the region would continue. Britain sent troops to Mali late in 2020 to provide reconnaissance support to the UN peacekeeping mission of about 14,000 personnel.
