The End of the United Nations Peace Mission in Mali

After a vote held at the end of June, the UN Security Council has decided to withdraw peacekeeping forces from Mali. Previously, Mali's military junta denounced the peacekeeping forces stating that they caused more issues than they stopped. This refusal to work with UN forces was the final nail in the coffin of the UN's mission in Mali, as it would be unprecedented to continue a mission without the cooperation of the host nation. The UN's Security Council Vote formerly put an end to the peacekeeping mission. 

To the many European nations participating in the peacekeeping mission, the end of the peacekeeping missions marks the start of Mali's new alliance with Russia. The Russian mercenary company, the Wagner Group, has a large presence in Africa protecting regimes from attempted coups. With the recent events involving the Wagner Group and the Russian government, it is uncertain whether the Wagner Group will aid Mali's junta. Despite the uncertainty, Mali's government is taking a step toward democracy with elections in the country being held just a few weeks ago. 

Many security experts think that believe that the end of the peacekeeping mission in Mali leaves the country open to Islamic extremism. Previous rebel groups were promised a role in constitutional conversations under a UN agreement. The withdrawal from the UN leaves the groups involved in the Azawad Movements with no peaceful way to negotiate with the government, which will likely lead to another rebellion. Experts also believe that Mali's military is simply not equipped to deal with the rampant extremism within the country, with Bloomberg describing the armed forces as "ramshackle". Many believe that the military junta will struggle to hold onto control, especially now they have distanced themselves from Western allies.