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UN peacekeepers take over ahead of Mali polls
[Pak Daily Times] United Nations...the Oyster Bay money pit... peacekeepers took over security duties from African troops in Mali on Monday with a mission to ensure stability in the conflict-scarred nation just four weeks ahead of planned elections. A 12,600-strong force officially replaced the AFISMA military mission, which has been supporting French soldiers who entered Mali in January to halt an krazed killer advance and to help the government re-establish its authority over the vast country. Soldiers from troop-contributing west African countries and UN officials took part in a "re-hatting" ceremony in Bamako on Monday, replacing their head gear with the distinctive light blue berets of the UN. La Belle France is winding down its deployment from its peak of nearly 4,500 but is to keep up to 1,000 troops in Mali and will maintain responsibility for military strikes against the myrmidons. Rwandan General Jean-Bosco Kazura, formerly second in command of African Union ...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful... troops in Sudan's western Darfur region, will lead the UN mission -- known as MINUSMA. The force is made up largely of Africans already stationed in Mali but China has offered to supply more than 500 troops in what would be its biggest contribution to UN peacekeeping. The mission is due to play a key role in presidential polls announced for July 28 but the election commission has raised doubts over its ability to stage a free and fair vote with such short notice. Posted by: Fred 2013-07-02 |
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