Mali mainly, 2012 coup, drugs & more

[davidbfpo]

Ganulv,

The official UN "line" regarding use of the French troops appears to be:

By other terms of the resolution (resolution 2100 of 25 April 2013 ), the Security Council authorized MINUSMA to use all necessary means to carry out its mandate as set out in paragraphs 16 (a) (i) and (ii), 16 (c) (i) and (iii), 16 (e), 16 (f) and 16 (g). It also authorized French troops deployed in Mali to use all necessary means to intervene in support of elements of MINUSMA when under imminent and serious threat upon request of the Secretary-General.

Link:http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/mi.../mandate.shtml

The Mission TOR are:

The Mission has been asked to support the transitional authorities of Mali in the stabilization of the country and implementation of the transitional roadmap, focusing on major population centres and lines of communication, protecting civilians, human rights monitoring, the creation of conditions for the provision of humanitarian assistance and the return of displaced persons, the extension of State authority and the preparation of free, inclusive and peaceful elections.

Link:http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/mi...ma/index.shtml

Elsewhere I have read that all the actual troops, police and others are not expected to be in place before December 2013. A Chinese PLA contingent has been pledged, but an official news agency report stressed it had no offensive role and the combat element would protect camps etc.

The key word is, with my emphasis 'The Mission has been asked to support the transitional authorities of Mali...'

The UN of course are resolute:

This is not an anti-terrorist operation but of course the mandate has an element of real robustness in it and of course we are in a position to use all necessary means to defend ourselves and of course to defend the mandate...

From:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-afri...twitter_africa

We shall no doubt learn how 'robust' this mission is.