In West Africa, UN forces are helping to protect Mali civilians from terrorist threat. More than 60 UN peacekeepers have died in the last three years alone. The mission is set for an extension and the force commander says he is confident his forces can help put an end to the violence.
It's the UN'S third largest deployment.More than 40 countries , 12 000 peacekeepers. Deployed In 2013 when Mali was threatened with anarchy following a 2012 coup -MINUSMA was seen as an avenue of peace and stability. But three years on. Its become a target
The latest victim - a Chinese peacekeeper killed in an attack in the northern town of Gao. It was China's first fatality in Mali but to the UN -a reminder that this is not just any other mission. 18 peacekeepers have been killed in the last two months alone. More than 60 in the last three years
"Everybody who want to create order up there is being attacked be it Malian forces, MINUSMA so this is generally the tactics the terrorists are using," Maj. Gen. Michael Lollesgaard with Force Commander Minusma said.
Various armed groups still control parts of the North some linked to Alqaeda others to Tuareg separatists . Last Year the UN appeared to score with the signing of a peace agreement between Some of the Tuareg rebel groups in the North and the southern based government. Its implementation though has been slow. With the UN Security Council set to decide whether to extend MINUSMA'S mandate there've been calls for a review of its functions- to include combat- or the deployment of an intervention brigade like the UN did in the DRC against the M23 rebels
"The political process is everything , we cant solve this with the soldiers eventually the solution is political where everyone is included in government and we have development in the north," Maj. Gen. Michael said.
Already UN secretary general BAN Ki Moon has asked the UN security council to add another 2500 peacekeepers here - plus the formation of a 'special intervention team within the UN police
"We have a good foundation and am sure if we are successful the people will support of terrorist group will be difficult," Maj. Gen. Michael said.
UN commanders here say the wording of their mandate may change but the basic mission remains much the same - to stabilize this vast country. And for that they need more troops and better intelligence capability.
