Internal review of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali – Report of the Secretary-General(S/2023/36)

I. Introduction

1 . In its resolution 2640 (2022), the Security Council expressed its support for my proposal to conduct an internal review of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), and requested that such a review provide a detailed analysis of the political and security challenges that had an impact on the Mission’s ability to implement its mandate; an assessment of the cooperation with the host authorities and movement restrictions; recommendations on the necessary conditions for MINUSMA to continue to operate and support the improvement of the political and security situation, deliver on its mandated tasks and enhance the robustness of its posture and its operational capacity to protect civilians, in full accordance with the principles of peacekeeping; and options on the Mission’s future configuration, force levels and ceiling of uniformed personnel. The present report includes the findings and recommendations of the internal review.

2 . The review began in July 2022 as a joint exercise between MINUSMA and United Nations Headquarters, under the lead of the Department of Peace Operations of the Secretariat, in consultation with the United Nations country team. The first phase was dedicated to producing an updated conflict analysis and a stocktaking exercise of the mandate implementation, followed by an examination of the Mission’s configuration to ascertain whether it remained adapted to the current context. From 26 October to 3 November 2022, a technical team from the Secretariat, comprising personnel from the Department of Peace Operations, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, joined the Mission’s review team for working-level discussions with the Malian transitional authorities, the United Nations country team and other stakeholders. In November and early December, the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, my Special Representative for Mali and the Assistant Secretary – General for Africa consulted with Algeria, African and permanent members of the Security Council, and troop- and police-contributing countries, as well as the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the European Union. On 5 December, the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations and my Special Representative for Mali participated in a meeting chaired by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mali with relevant ministers and met with the Transitional President. Malian authorities handed over a note articulating their priorities and expectations of the review (see annex).

Source: UN Security Council