News item | 30-09-2022 | 18:14
The International Research and Policy Evaluation Directorate (IOB) has conducted an independent investigation into the Dutch contribution to the UN mission UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) between 2014 and 2019. In a letter to parliament dated 30 September 2022, the government responded to the findings and recommendations.
Dutch deployment in Mali
Stability and security in Africa has a direct influence on the Netherlands and Europe. Not only in the field of security, but also, for example, in the prevention of migratory flows and the threat of terrorism. The government therefore considers it important to continue to contribute to international missions.
From April 2014 to May 1, 2019, the Netherlands contributed to the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali. The Dutch contribution included defense personnel, police officers and civilian advisers and experts.
The UN Operation in Mali (English) must restore security and stability in the country and protect its citizens. Currently, the Netherlands still contributes to MINUSMA, and the current Force Commander of the mission is a Dutch lieutenant general.
UN peacekeeping missions
The government emphasizes that contributions to UN peacekeeping missions almost always take place in an unruly context, in which results are often not easy to achieve and risks will continue to exist. At the same time, the government emphasizes the importance of continuing to contribute to international missions: to promote the international legal order and stability. This is also important for safety in the Netherlands.
Evaluation of the Dutch contribution
Immediately after the mission between 2014 and 2019, the ministries involved (Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Justice and Security) already carried out an internal evaluation. In accordance with the Bosman et al. motion of 2020, the IOB also conducted an independent final evaluation of the Dutch contribution to the UN mission.
Final evaluation IOB
IOB is positive about the quality and professionalism of the Dutch contribution, but the overall evaluation is critical. The final evaluation of IOB contains twelve findings and dozens of recommendations. These are important for future decision-making about Dutch contributions to international missions.
The findings show, among other things, that the military (intelligence) contribution could not be sufficiently embedded in the mission, the military objectives were too ambitious, a political-strategic goal was missing and the integrated approach had not been clearly developed.
Government response to the results
In the policy response, Minister Hoekstra (Foreign Affairs), Minister Ollongren (Defence), Minister Schreinemacher (Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) and Minister Yeşilgöz-Zegerius (Justice and Security) announced that a number of the findings and recommendations have already been or are being implemented. .
As a result of the lessons learned about the mission in Afghanistan, the government has already recognized the importance of a clear formulation of the mission mandate and the Dutch objective and has included it in recent letters to parliament about contributions to missions. The government is working on further developing the integrated approach so that different resources and policy instruments are better connected and reinforce each other in future mission deployment.
When deploying intelligence capacity in the future, the government undertakes to make an analysis beforehand of the information needs and the various participants within the mission. There is also a closer look at who is responsible for civilian intelligence needs and who is responsible for military intelligence needs.
Thanks to the Dutch staff in Mali
The cabinet also thanks all involved military personnel, police officers and civilian advisers who have been deployed to Mali. For their efforts, often under difficult circumstances. The Dutch staff was known for being professional, valuable and committed. Together they have rendered the Netherlands an important service.
The cabinet commemorates the soldiers who died or were injured during their contribution to the mission. And all Malian and other victims, both military and civilian, who fell during their commitment to peace and security in Mali.