News item | 10-02-2022 | 17:31
The Cabinet will provide the House of Representatives with an update on the state of affairs in the African country of Mali.
An international force is stationed in Mali and has been commanded by Dutch Lieutenant General Kees Matthijssen since this year. The force consists of almost 14,000 blue helmets from UN mission Minusma. The Netherlands supports the UN mission with, among other things, a C-130 Hercules Transport Plane and support staff.
Working together
In a letter to the House of Representatives, the cabinet lists various scenarios for joint security efforts in Mali and the region, and the Dutch contributions to it. In August 2020, a coup d’état took place in Mali. It is also known that Russian paramilitaries have been active in the country since January 2022.
The main thing is that the Netherlands will continue to act in a coordinated and joint manner with partners. The Netherlands is in talks with partners in the UN, the EU and the European Forces Task Force Takuba about the possible consequences of the deteriorating conditions in Mali.
Dutch deployment Sahel
Mali is located in the Sahel, an unstable region on the edge of Europe. The deteriorating security situation in the region is affecting European security. And therefore also in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands is committed – together with like-minded partners – to remove the root causes of instability and poverty in the Sahel countries. Our country is particularly committed to human rights and good governance in order to promote security and lasting peace in the region.