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The UK is withdrawing troops from Mali earlier than planned due to political instability in the country, Defence Minister James Heappey has said.
Since 2020 around 300 British soldiers had been in the country as part of a UN mission to protect the local population from Islamist extremism.
Mr Heappey said two coups in Mali in three years had “undermined” efforts.
He also attacked the current Malian government for working with the Russian mercenary group Wagner.
“The Wagner Group is linked to mass human rights abuses and the Malian government’s partnership with the Wagner Group is counterproductive to lasting stability and security in their region,” he told MPs.
The operation in Mali had been described as “the most dangerous peacekeeping mission in the world” and 288 UN soldiers have lost their lives there since 2013.
While in the region, British troops had conducted long-range reconnaissance patrols against Islamist militant groups in the area such as al-Qaeda and Islamic state.
- Coups that promised – and failed – to bring safety
- Why French troops are leaving Mali
- What is Russia’s Wagner Group of mercenaries?
The UK is the latest country to pull its troops from Mali, with France formally ending its decade-long presence last week.
French troops had been in Mali at the request of the then-government, however, since seizing power in 2020, Mali’s military rulers have fallen out with France and have instead turned to Russia to help in their fight against Islamist insurgents who are wreaking havoc across much of the country.
There are widespread and credible reports that Russia’s Wagner group of mercenaries has been helping Mali, although this has never been officially acknowledged by either Russia or Mali.
However, human rights groups have accused the Russians working with Mali’s army of atrocities, such as the killing of around 300 civilians in April.
Meanwhile, the Islamist insurgency, which was the soldiers’ justification for taking power has only got worse.
More than 4,000 people have been killed in the past year and many parts of the country are outside the control of Mali’s military junta