Secretary-General calls for conversion of African force into
a UN peacekeeping operation independent of combat forces.
Ban Ki-moon, secretary-general of the United Nations, has
proposed an 11,200-strong peacekeeping force in Mali.
The force, proposed by Ban on Tuesday, would work alongside
non-UN forces to conduct major combat and counter-terrorism operations as one
option to maintain security after French forces leave the West African nation.
"Although the extremists and criminal elements have
been dealt a heavy blow, they continue to pose a significant threat to the
safety and security of the civilian population and any United Nations personnel
deployed in Mali", the UN chief said in a report to the Security Council.
Ban said the option would give the African-led force in
Mali, AFISMA, a combat role and expand the UN political mission.
The United Nations would work with the African Union and
others to rapidly build up and improve the operational capabilities of the African
force.
Another option presented by Ban, would be to strengthen the
UN's new political mission in Mali and give the African-led force in Mali known
as AFISMA, responsibility for security and offencive combat operations, in
advance of a UN stabilisation mission.
Rejected request
The secretary-general rejected a request from Malians as
well as the African Union and West African regional group for a UN force to
undertake combat operations against armed groups saying this falls well outside
the UN peacekeeping doctrine and peacekeepers are not trained or equipped for
fighting in the deserts and mountains of northern Mali.
Fighters attacked Gao, the largest town in the north, over
the weekend. It was the third major offencive there by the fighters since the
town was retaken by a French-led military operation in late January.
The secretary-general said the political process in Mali is
lagging "dangerously behind the military effort'' and he called for a
national dialogue to be convened without delay.
He said the worrying human rights situation also needs
immediate action, citing reports in the north of summary executions, illegal
arrests, use of children by armed groups, rape, forced marriage and the
destruction and looting of property.
The Security Council was due to be briefed on Wednesday on
Ban's recommendations and diplomats hope a vote to approve the peacekeeping
force can take place by mid-April.
France launched a military operation January 11 against the
armed groups after they suddenly started moving south into
government-controlled areas and captured key towns.
Backed by Chadiansoldiers, French troops ousted the fighters
from the major towns in northern Mali, though many went into hiding in the
desert and continue to carry out attacks.
France, the former colonial ruler of Mali, has said it has
no intention of keeping its 4,000 troops in Mali for the long term and plans a
gradual pullout starting in April.
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