UN Regrets Expulsion of Spokesperson in Mali

The UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, MINUSMA has said it regrets the expulsion of its spokesperson.

The Malian government ordered the UN Deputy Chief Communication & Spokesperson, Olivier Salgado to leave the county in three days over ‘unacceptable’ statements on the controversial arrest of dozens of Ivorian soldiers in Bamako.

Peacekeeping Effort
Mr. Salgado had said that Mali was notified of the arrival of the Ivorian soldiers, whom the military-led government accused of being “mercenaries” planning to destabilise the transition.

Mali suspended MINUSMA’S Troop rotations shortly after and allegedly barred eight soldiers from the German contingent from leaving Bamako.

Turbulent relations between Mali’s junta and the UN mission threaten to derail peacekeeping efforts and worsen the country’s instability.

A prominent pro-Russian activist group, Yerewolo sur les Remparts, is expected to hold anti-Minusma protests on July 29, as it demands the departure of peacekeepers by September 22, when Mali marks its independence day.

BBC/CO