The Senegalese Army, which is one of the main contributors in soldiers and police to UN force in Mali, has said that it will keep its participation in the Minusma. This was in response to Senegalese opposition and declared presidential candidate.
The Senegalese battalion based in Sévaré (central Mali) began its rotation this week, the Minusma reported on social networks.
Ousmane sonko, Senegal’s main opposition figure, used Mali against President Macky Sall of France and to attack President Macky Sall on Thursday when he declared his candidacy for 2024’s presidential election. He also expressed strong support for the head of the Malian junta, Colonel Assimi Goïta.
Sonko stated that Macky Sall had repatriated the Senegalese elements that were there, but they weren’t there as Senegalese. He was there because France had asked him for troops.
Sonko stated that if elected, “we would send troops to support the Malian brothers, and put an end this gangrene,” referring to the jihadist spreading disease that has plagued Mali’s sub-region since 2012. It has reached its neighbours in Burkina Faso (Niger) and is now affecting the entire region.
The staff stated that Senegal, like other countries, has gone through a “periodic rotating” on Thursday night and Friday.
According to it, “Contraryto some information given by the media, Senegal is not disengaged” from Mali. He stated that this week’s “a normal operation is to replace, the numberfornum, the troops engaged” by Senegal since the beginning of the crisis.
He said that Senegal has 1,300 soldiers and gendarmes, as well as police officers in its Minusma. The Minusma is home to approximately 17,500 people, including more than 13,000 police officers and soldiers.
Ousmane Sonko also said he “encouraged President Assimi Goïta because he has not lost face”.
Colonel Goïta took and strengthened his power through two coups in 2020 and 2021, with the declared project of turning the country around and restoring security. Under his leadership, Mali has turned its back on France and its former allies and has turned toward Russia.
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