The UN in Mali: Colonel de Wolf on the conflict, the Tuareg and MINUSMA’s role

“MINUSMA is waiting for more enablers – technologically advanced military forces – before they can move up to Kidal. After the Dutch and the Swedes have arrived, we can move up to Kidal and maybe even further north to Tessalit.”

Colonel Joost de Wolf (Royal Netherlands Marine Corps) reflects on the Malian conflict, and specifically on the role of the Tuareg. On Thursday 17 April Colonel de Wolf will be sent to Mali as Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

Colonel de Wolf gives a rough overview of the conflict between the Tuareg rebels and the Bamako-based Malian government. He details the French intervention under Operation Serval, and the reasons for MINUSMA to intervene. Colonel de Wolf further details the reasons for the Tuareg to rebel; their desire to have an independent state of Azawad; and the strategic importance of Kidal.

On 10 April 2014, Colonel Joost de Wolf was interviewed by Bruno Braak at the Dutch Ministry of Defense on the Malian conflict, MINUSMA’s goals, and the Dutch contribution.

For more information on MINUSMA please refer to: www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/minusma/.