The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA)

The international relations literature finds that when there is a third party present to enforce a peace deal, the peace is more durable.  Mali is the newest data point to test this theory.  Starting July 1, Mali will receive an influx of UN peacekeepers.

Here is some background to the conflict:

• On June 18, 2013, the Malian Government and the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and the High Council for the Unity of Azawad signed an agreement in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.  However, peace deals are not new between the Mali government and the Tuareg ethnic group.
• Northern Mali was occupied by radical Islamists when fighting broke out in January 2012 between Government forces and Tuareg rebels. The rebels had formed an alliance with al-Qaeda-linked militants to seize the north in 2012.  The conflict displaced hundreds of thousands of people and prompted the Malian Government to request assistance from France to halt the southward march of the extremist groups.
• The MNLA has watered down its demand for independence, saying it will settle, as a first step, for autonomy for the desert region where they live.
• The peace deal includes:  the immediate "phased deployment" of government troops in the troubled Kidal province of northern Mali – the last rebel stronghold in the country.
• Elections are scheduled for July 28.  Here are some reasons why the elections may fail.  

Here is some background on the mission:

• The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was established by Security Council resolution 2100 of 25 April 2013.
• The UN is due to deploy a 12,600-strong peacekeeping force (11,200 military personnel and 1,440 police (including formed units)  More than 6,500 African troops are in the country already.  
• Albert Gerard Koenders of the Netherlands has been appointed to head the mission.  Before this appointment, he was the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) since October 2011.
• Major General Jean Bosco Kazura has been appointed Force Commander for the mission. Before this appointment, he was the Commandant of the Rwandan Defence Forces Combat Training Center.  
• The mandate authorizes the mission “to use all necessary means” to carry out security-related stabilization tasks, protect civilians, UN staff and cultural artifacts, and create the conditions for the provision of humanitarian aid. 
• Troop contributing countries that have announced that they will send troops include:  Nigeria, Liberia, China, Sweden, Uganda, South Africa, Rwanda, Tanzania, Chad and Burundi, Niger, Burkina Faso, Senegal (Note: Rights groups have called for Chad not to be included as a troop contributing country)  
• Police contributing countries that have announced they will sent police include: Nigeria (formed police unit) and  Senegal
• Britain has offered the use of its transport planes to help bring in the soldiers.