KAMPONG CHAM: Prime Minister Hun Manet ordered the withdrawal of Cambodian Blue Helmet troops and the destruction of all military equipment in Mali at the request of the United Nations. He asserted that the current situation in Mali had prompted the withdrawal of UN Blue Helmet peacekeeping troops from the country after militants attacked UN troops.

In fact, the military junta that took control of Mali in 2020 has ordered the UN’s stabilisation mission in Mali (MINUSMA) to withdraw as soon as possible. The UN has agreed, but has asked for the allowance of a safe and secure withdraw which it has promised to complete by December 31, 2023. Over the next two months, 13,000 peacekeepers (11,600 soldiers and 1,500 police officers) from ten or so countries will leave the mission behind as fears mount that fighting will intensify between troops and armed factions for control of the territory.

MINUSMA was established in 2013 by the UN Security Council, and has been called the deadliest place to be a peacekeeper. Over 300 peacekeepers have lost their lives amid continuing extremist violence and rampant insecurity across much of northern and central Mali. The Council terminated its mandate in June following a request by the country’s military government.

In November 2022, three Cambodian peacekeepers were injured in a mine blast in Mali, when their vehicle drove over an improvised explosive device in the central part of the country. One month later, Cambodia sent 173 Blue Helmets to Mali to conduct airport management and demining missions.

Cambodia has sent over 8,000 peacekeepers to nine countries since 2006, often with missions related to demining.