A Critical Analysis Of The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission In Mali

This dissertation does a critical analysis of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali(MINUSMA),particularly by analyzing its mandate,objectives,challenges and accomplishment from its deployment in July 2013 to end of 2017.In recent years,Mali has been confronted by a profound crisis with serious political,security,socio-economic,humanitarian and human rights consequences.The crisis stems from long-standing structural conditions such as weak State institutions;ineffective governance;fragile social cohesion;deep-seated feelings among communities in the north of being neglected,marginalized and unfairly treated by the central Government;a weak and externally dependent,albeit vibrant,civil society;and the effects of environmental degradation,climate change and economic shocks.These conditions were exacerbated by more recent factors of instability,including corruption,nepotism,abuse of power,internal strife and deteriorating capacity of the national army.In mid-January 2012,a Tuareg movement known as the Mouvement national pour la libération de l'Azawad(MNLA),along with Islamic armed groups including Ansar Dine,Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb(AQIM)and the Mouvement pour l'unicité et le jihad en Afrique de l'Ouest(MUJAO),in addition to deserters from the Malian armed forces,initiated a series of attacks against Government forces in the north of the country.Since the outbreak of the conflict in the northern part of Mali in January 2012 and the institutional crisis that arose from the coup d'état of 22 March 2012,sustained efforts have been made,both at regional,continental and international levels,to find a lasting solution.The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali(MINUSMA)was established by Security Council resolution 2100 of 25 April 2013 to support political processes in the country and carry out a number of security-related tasks.With the responsibility of stabilization of the Northern Mali,cantonment and disarmament of armed groups and also the restoration of the authority and the sovereignty of the State throughout the national territory,MINUSMA has an unclear mandate with too many goals and insufficient resources.MINUSMA faces many challenges in the implementation of its mission.The growing insecurity in the North and Center is dragging the rebellion into a generalized ethnic conflict.The implementation of the Algiers agreement is remains a big problem due to the fact that it doesn't take the real causes of the conflict in consideration.Instead of bringing peace,Algiers agreement is contributing to the division of the population.This paper makes a brief introduction to the former Tuareg rebellion since the independence of Mali;it highlights the causes of the different Tuareg rebellions and the way they were solved.Further,after elaborating the difficulties faced by the United Nation's forces in the implication of its mandate;it evaluates MINUSMA's involvement in the maintenance of peace in Mali in terms of impact.The thesis ends with a conclusion on the situation in Mali and some useful recommendation for future peacekeeping operations.