U.N. troop rotations in Mali to resume on Monday

DAKAR (Reuters) – Troop rotations by the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali will resume on Monday, a mission spokesperson stated on Saturday, one month after Malian authorities suspended them and accused overseas troopers of getting into the nation with out permission.

Mali’s ruling junta suspended troop rotations for the practically 12,000-strong mission on July 14 after arresting 49 troopers from Ivory Coast who it stated had arrived within the nation with out permission. Ivory Coast denied this.

It stated they might resume following discussions with representatives from the mission, generally known as MINUSMA, about learn how to coordinate troop deployments.

The July arrests highlighted friction between the junta, which seized energy in an August 2020 coup, and worldwide companions, who’ve criticised election delays and safety cooperation with Russian mercenaries.

Ivory Coast says the troopers had been deployed as a part of a assist contract signed with MINUSMA, which was created in 2013 to offer safety from Islamist miltants. The Ivorian troops stay in detention.

A MINUSMA spokesperson stated the mission and Malian authorities had agreed on a streamlined rotation process and that the mission’s request to renew rotations on Monday had been accepted.

Mali’s overseas ministry couldn’t be instantly reached for remark.

Relations between Mali and troop-contributing nations stay strained. On Friday, Germany stated it was suspending its army reconnaissance mission, which gives intelligence to MINUSMA, after Malian authorities withheld a flight clearance.

Mali’s overseas minister denied on Twitter that the federal government had executed so and referred to as on Germany to stick to the brand new mechanism for approving troop rotations.

(Reporting by Aaron Ross; Modifying by Christina Fincher)