The Sahel, which includes the francophone countries of Mali, Burkino Faso, Chad, Niger and Mauritania, is not one of Britain’s traditional fields of operations. We’ve trained hard for the last year to make sure that we are ready for this challenging mission. They called on the Malian army to continue working with French troops (Operation Barkhane), their European allies (Takuba), their UN auxiliaries (Minusma), and their auxiliaries from the Sahel countries (G5 Sahel). A s the UK prepares to deploy troops as part of the UN mission to fight violent extremism in Mali (Minusma), politicians and defence commentators insist this is not another Iraq or Afghanistan. March 16, 2020. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. Around 300 British troops have arrived in the west African country of Mali. Cameroon is suppressing an anglophone separatist movement and Nigeria is conducting operations against Boko Haram in the country’s north east, as well as recurring conflicts in the country’s Middle Belt and the oil-producing Niger Delta. The UN Mission in Mali is made up of over 14,000 peacekeepers from 56 different countries and works to support peace efforts, encourage security sector reform, protect civilians and promote human rights. Explore similarities and differences. We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve government services. It recently emerged—after initial denials—that Britain had in 2019 provided training and equipment for Nigeria’s police and security forces, funded via its so-called “aid” budget. We use cookies to collect information about how you use GOV.UK. Why is the UK in Mali? Britain has for some years had forces in Nigeria, its former colony where Shell Oil Company has major investments, supposedly training its military and security forces to deal with Islamist terrorist groups. They will be based in the newly formed Camp Bagnold, which is named after Brigadier Ralph Alger Bagnold, the desert explorer and first Commanding Officer of the British Army’s “Long Range Desert Group.”. Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey attacked the Tories for their decade in power, during which “the size of the armed forces has been cut by a quarter, defence spending was cut by over £7 billion.”, International Committee of the Fourth International, Foreword to the German edition of David North’s, May stakes out Britain’s imperialist ambitions in Africa, Pro-imperialist coup topples Malian President Keïta, French-backed security forces in the Sahel guilty of mass extrajudicial executions, Tens of thousands rally in French-occupied Mali for resignation of president, Malians protest to demand departure of French occupation troops, German defence minister supports combat operations in Africa, Forty-nine Malian soldiers dead in Islamic State attack, as protests grow against French-led war. The UK has consistently supported UN and EU military operations in Mali in recent years. Amidst the flurry of a new British Prime Minister and Cabinet, it was easy to miss the … Presented as a contribution to the UN’s peacekeeping mission, it is part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s efforts to reassert British imperialism’s interests in Africa against the challenge from its major rivals as the UK prepares to leave the European Union (EU). The latest breaking news, comment and features from The Independent. UK to send 250 troops to Mali for dangerous peacekeeping mission. The aim of the operation was to oust Islamic militants from the north of Mali, who had begun a push into the center of Mali. But Johnson is determined to recoup some of Britain’s lost influence in Africa, while embracing US imperialism and its militaristic agenda. On August 18, amid mounting protests, a junta of Malian army colonels launched a pre-emptive coup, toppling President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, and declaring loyalty to the French occupation force. A UK task force has arrived in Mali to join the UN peacekeeping mission where they will provide a reconnaissance capability, UK troops arriving in Mali on an RAF A400M. UK Mali mission with UN to be scaled back to avoid casualties 'The choice is simple' BRITAIN'S mission to combat Islamist extremism in West Africa is … 30 July 2019. They have flown from RAF Brize Norton by A400M aircraft to the UN camp in Gao. Mali is Africa’s third-largest gold producer after Ghana, its southern neighbour, and South Africa. They declared, “The Minusma, the Barkhane force, the G5 Sahel, the Takuba force are still our partners for stability and the restoration of security. This is entirely separate from the UN mission, but they will be operating in the same region. The first of 300 British troops have arrived in Mali to bolster the UN peacekeeping mission there, with the rest due to follow within a week. UK in Mali. Three Chinook helicopters and around 100 British RAF personnel are already present in the country, supporting the Malian branch of … Like the 2012 coup that paved the way for the 2013 French invasion, the 2020 coup started in the Kita army base. “An advanced … The UK is one of the largest humanitarian donors to the Sahel - in 2020 the UK gave £14.65m in humanitarian aid to Mali and is currently in the process of increasing the size of the UK embassy to reinforce our diplomatic strength in the country. Britain's contribution directly in support of France has been in air capabilities, lift and surveill… Why is the UK in Mali? UK troops arriving in Mali on an RAF A400M 300 UK troops have arrived in Mali as part of the UN’s peacekeeping mission, primarily drawn from … We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council this deployment is a demonstration of our firm commitment to peacekeeping and the importance we place on improving security in the Sahel by protecting local communities. You can change your cookie settings at any time. British Chief of the Air Staff Mike Wigston addresses French troops and British airmen and women in Gao, Mali Credit: AFP - Getty. Ministers increased the number from 250 to 300 but restricted their role j… In addition to its forces in Nigeria, Djibouti and Somalia, Britain has 14 training missions on the continent operating out of its base in Kenya, including in Gabon, Malawi, and Zambia. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. France intervened in Mali in January 2013 against separatist and Islamist forces who came from Libya in the aftermath of NATO’s regime-change war in 2011. We call on you, our brothers in arms, to continue discharging your law-and-order and operational missions.”. Major John House, commander of the Senegal team, declared it was in Britain's interests to get more involved in the region, saying, “If we don't act, we may find the problems getting closer to our door. We’re proud to be the first British soldiers to join in this team effort to help combat instability in the Sahel. There are more than 250,000 internally displaced people as well as nearly 30,000 refugees from Burkina Faso and Niger. Stay on top of Mali latest developments on the ground with Al Jazeera’s fact-based news, exclusive video footage, photos and updated maps. The Mission was asked to support the transitional authorities of Mali in the stabilization of the country and implementation In the case of Mali, however, it is wrong to presume mission creep. Britain does have responsibilities. Last year, at least 500 civilians were killed by these groups that also attacked French, European, and local armed forces, with one suicide attack killing more than 50 Malians in a military base in 2017. Troops in Cameroon and Nigeria have been involved in such operations for years. Found 155 UK NGOs working in Mali Figures refer to charities registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, based on areas of operation supplied … Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. March 10, 2020. The Sahel is one of Africa’s poorest and most fragile regions. It also borders Niger, which hosts France’s military forces including drone bases and provides most of the uranium supplies required for nuclear power production in France. The UK already has three Chinook helicopters deployed in country and 250 British troops are scheduled to take up UN peacekeeping duties in December in what could be the ministry of defence’s most dangerous deployment since Afghanistan. This is in addition to its participation in UN peacekeeping missions, recently doubling its deployments to South Sudan, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The intention is to prevent extremists of any nature from operating in the anarchic Sahel region, and in particular to prevent them planning attacks on Europe. After three decades of US-led wars, the outbreak of a third world war, which would be fought with nuclear weapons, is an imminent and concrete danger. Operation Serval (French: Opération Serval) was a French military operation in Mali. The Labour Party not only endorsed Johnson’s “long overdue” expansion of British militarism, but sought to outflank the Tory government on the right. Mali exposed and revealed what I call ‘counter-insurgency politics’. In July, small teams of Special Airforce Service, whose tasks include covert reconnaissance, counterterrorism, direct action, and hostage rescue, were reported to be in Mali preparing for the main force of Light Dragoons and Royal Anglian troops to arrive later in the year. Terrorist violence and conflict is sharply on the rise. UK forces were sent to Gao, in eastern Mali, where they will form part of Minusma, the UN’s peacekeeping operation with 14,000 troops from 56 countries, in the vast desert and semi-arid region of the Sahel. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office The British Embassy in Mali maintains and develops relations between the UK and Mali. The UK government's decision to deploy an additional 250 soldiers to join the United Nations mission in Mali (known as MINUSMA) might be in Britain's security interests. Going by various pronouncements, by the UK government, it would seem that we are there to aid the French in their rightful task of supporting a democratic government and stopping terrorist groups, like al Qaeda, from … The United Kingdom will deploy 300 troops to Mali this week as part of the UN peacekeeping mission (MINUSMA), the British ministry of Defense announced Thursday. Operating under the UN mandate, British forces will not be involved in the EU operations in the Sahel, including the EU mission to train Mali’s police, although it does provide helicopter support for Operation Barkhane, France’s 5,000-strong anti-insurgency force, headquartered in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad. 300 UK troops have arrived in Mali as part of the UN’s peacekeeping mission, primarily drawn from the Light Dragoons alongside the Royal Anglian Regiment and supported by specialist trades from across the Armed Forces. This is the largest real terms increase in 30 years, confirming that the ruling elite are stepping up their military preparations in pursuit of their geo-strategic aims. It is an extended European neighbourhood and matters to Britain. The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. The main body of troops arrived on 2nd December, and all UK personnel will have arrived by 8th December to set up the UK Headquarters. Al Qaeda's North Africa wing has said it was responsible for the killing of three French soldiers in Mali, jihadist monitoring organisation SITE Intel reported on Saturday. Une nouvelle recherche novatrice de UK Centre for Ecology & … British troops will reinforce our development and diplomatic work, to maximise our impact on the ground. It is marked by chronic poverty, instability, high levels of gender inequality, and is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Firstly, because it is important to counter the spread of terrorism in Mali, and secondly because supporting France is … BRITISH troops due to spearhead a new force in war-torn Mali are to stay inside their base over fears it is too dangerous. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab sought to cover this blatant piece of imperialist militarism, declaring, “This new deployment of 300 British troops to the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Mali is part of our ongoing work in the Sahel region to build stability, improve the humanitarian response and help protect innocent civilians from violence.”, While this is partly bound up with efforts to reduce migration to Europe, vital geo-strategic issues are also involved. A MoD spokesperson told Janes on 2 November that the UK task group was on schedule to begin deploying to Mali in December. Operation Serval followed the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2085 of 20 December 2012 and an official request by the Malian interim government for French military assistance. This new deployment of 300 British troops to the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Mali is part of our ongoing work in the Sahel region to build stability, improve the humanitarian response and help protect innocent civilians from violence. To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. It has maintained more than 4,000 troops in Mali, increased to more than 5,100 since the beginning of 2020, as part of an international coalition that includes Germany, Canada, the US and the so-called G5 force of troops from Niger, Chad, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Mali. In one of her last acts as British Defence Secretary, Penny Mordaunt announced 250 troops will be deployed to support the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, but for this to be effective it needs a more coherent strategy for engagement in the Sahel and Africa with clear objectives and resources. General Ibrahim Dahirou Dembélé, who has been decorated for his services to French national security, was again one of its leaders. Alongside this, the MoD currently has 3 Chinook helicopters and 100 personnel in a logistics role supporting the French-led Counter-Terrorist mission, Operation BARKHANE. Earlier this year Mali witnessed months of protests against the French occupation, launched in 2013, and the ethnic massacres between rival militias that Paris tolerates, and uses to divide and rule the country. According to the Ministry of Defence there many short-term military teams training security forces to respond “appropriately and proportionally” to security threats, terrorism, violations of human rights, wildlife preservation and emerging humanitarian crises. The UK Government’s decision to deploy an additional 250 soldiers to join the United Nations mission in Mali (known as MINUSMA) might be in Britain’s security interests. The coup in Mali is not a putsch by disgruntled soldiers in a distant land. According to the Ministry of Defence, their main task is to mount reconnaissance operations around Gao where several Islamist groups, including various al-Qaida affiliates under the banner of Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and a rival Isis affiliate, Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, are active. Mali and United Kingdom living comparison. It is privately acknowledged that the troops will likely be targeted by extremist groups fighting for … When they took power, the coup leaders made their loyalty to French imperialism clear. Nevertheless, the British Army's peacekeeping mission in Mali will probably be the most dangerous task it has faced since the end of combat operations in … It soon became the UN’s most dangerous mission, and last year it was forced to extend its remit to central Mali. Despite its gold, Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 184 out of 188 on the United Nations Human Development Index, with 78 percent of the population living in poverty. First announced in July 2019 shortly after Johnson became prime minister, the deployment of troops to West Africa began earlier this year when around 30 soldiers and Royal Marines took part in training special forces from West African nations in a US-led “counter-terrorism” exercise in Senegal involving more than 1,600 troops. According to the United Nations, about 12.9 million people are affected by the crisis in Mali, with 6.8 million in need of humanitarian assistance. Firstly, because it is important to counter the spread of terrorism in Mali, and secondly because supporting France is consistent with the UK's wider security goals. The Minusma mission has been described as the most dangerous in the world. Africa is the arena for the largest number of Britain’s Armed Forces overseas on training or operational missions. The 300 strong Light Dragoon task group is joining over 14,000 peacekeepers from 56 Nations as part of this challenging UN mission in Mali to help protect the people from violence and support political dialogue. The crisis in Mali is associated with recent events in Libya in which the United Kingdom was a principal protagonist. We bring years of experience on operations, first class equipment and exceptional people. All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated, Chief of Defence Staff speech RUSI Annual lecture, COVID Support Force: the MOD’s continued contribution to the coronavirus response, Defence Secretary's speech on defence reform, Protecting the UK and promoting a Global Britain, Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support, Transparency and freedom of information releases. There it was 'early in - early out' notwithstanding the mess that has been left behind. 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 that country and carry out a number of security-related tasks. The UK Task Force will provide a highly specialised reconnaissance capability, conducting patrols to gather intelligence and engage with the local population to help the UN respond to threats from violent extremism, and weak governance. 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