United Nations Chief Political Officer for Africa Martha Bobby called Mali’s decision to withdraw from the regional counter-terrorism force regrettable, especially at a time of heightened terrorist activity. She explained that the decision of the ruling military council in Mali this week to withdraw troops “is definitely a step backwards for the Sahel region”, noting that “since November last year, the forces have been conducting operations without the participation of Malian forces.” .”

“We have yet to see the impact of Mali’s decision to withdraw from the combined forces on the organization and dynamics in the region,” Bobby said, noting that “over the past five years, the international community, donors and partners have aggressively sought to reach a consensus on the mechanism to most effectively support measures of collective security in the Sahel. She stressed: “We need innovative approaches in countering the ever-changing tactics of terrorist groups whose influence continues to expand,” noting that “although all major players are aware that a terrorist attack in the Sahel region poses a slowly mortal threat to international peace and security, there is a lack of consensus. He’s still in power.”

The force was created in 2014 from Mali and neighboring West African countries such as Niger, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Chad to fight terrorism in the Sahel region, but from the very beginning they suffered from financial and political problems and the force was not deployed until 2017.