The United Nations on Monday (Dec 11) officially concluded its decade-old deployment in Mali, its spokesperson released a statement saying, in a move that Mali's military leaders ordered.&nbsp;

The mission, which was also known as MINUSMA, lowered the United Nations flag on its headquarters in the capital Bamako, its spokesperson Fatoumata Kaba told the news agency AFP.

She further said that this symbolic ceremony marked the end of the mission. However, some elements of it are still there, she added.

A "liquidation phase" is scheduled for Jan 1, 2024, where activities like handing over the remaining equipment to the authorities will occur.

<h2>UN troops' departure won't be delayed: Mali junta</h2>

Earlier, Malian foreign minister Abdoulaye Diop had released a statement saying that the withdrawal of United Nations peacekeepers from northern Mali would not be delayed and would happen on time by December 31.&nbsp;

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The UN expressed concerns that its drawdown may get hampered by an uptick in fighting in the northern part of the country.

"Everything must be done to ensure the work of MINUSMA is ended by December 31," Diop had said in a video posted on social media on Saturday evening.

"The government does not foresee any extension of this deadline," he said in the recording of comments he made to a meeting of the diplomatic corps in the capital, Bamako.

Mali's ruling junta took over power in the year 2020 and demanded the departure of the mission in the month of June which has been deployed since 2013.

The withdrawal of the United Nations stabilisation mission, MINUSMA, ignited fears that the fighting between the troops and armed factions would heighten over territorial control.&nbsp;

MINUSMA for a decade had maintained around 15,000 soldiers and police in Mali. The hostile acts had claimed the lives of around 180 members.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PressRelease?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PressRelease</a> - Closure of the MINUSMA camp in Sevare, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mopti?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mopti</a> region. 
 
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As of Friday, more than 10,500 uniformed and civilian MINUSMA personnel had left Mali, out of a total of around 13,800 staff at the start of the withdrawal, the UN mission said on X.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The United Nations on Monday (Dec 11) officially concluded its decade-old deployment in Mali, its spokesperson released a statement saying, in a move that Mali's military leaders ordered.

The United Nations on Monday (Dec 11) officially concluded its decade-old deployment in Mali, its spokesperson released a statement saying, in a move that Mali's military leaders ordered. The mission, which was also known as MINUSMA, lowered the United Nations flag on its headquarters in the capital Bamako, its spokesperson Fatoumata Kaba told the news agency AFP. She further said that this symbolic ceremony marked the end of the mission. However, some elements of it are still there, she added. A "liquidation phase" is scheduled for Jan 1, 2024, where activities like handing over the remaining equipment to the authorities will occur. UN troops' departure won't be delayed: Mali junta Earlier, Malian foreign minister Abdoulaye Diop had released a statement saying that the withdrawal of United Nations peacekeepers from northern Mali would not be delayed and would happen on time by December 31. Also read: At least 4 injured after airstrike on Kyiv; Biden to host Zelensky at W. House The UN expressed concerns that its drawdown may get hampered by an uptick in fighting in the northern part of the country. "Everything must be done to ensure the work of MINUSMA is ended by December 31," Diop had said in a video posted on social media on Saturday evening. "The government does not foresee any extension of this deadline," he said in the recording of comments he made to a meeting of the diplomatic corps in the capital, Bamako. Mali's ruling junta took over power in the year 2020 and demanded the departure of the mission in the month of June which has been deployed since 2013. The withdrawal of the United Nations stabilisation mission, MINUSMA, ignited fears that the fighting between the troops and armed factions would heighten over territorial control. MINUSMA for a decade had maintained around 15,000 soldiers and police in Mali. The hostile acts had claimed the lives of around 180 members. #PressRelease - Closure of the MINUSMA camp in Sevare, #Mopti region. 📖👉🏿 https://t.co/QWZ3HOxNof — MINUSMA (@UN_MINUSMA) December 9, 2023 × As of Friday, more than 10,500 uniformed and civilian MINUSMA personnel had left Mali, out of a total of around 13,800 staff at the start of the withdrawal, the UN mission said on X. (With inputs from agencies)

UN mission in Mali officially concludes 10-year deployment

A report by the United Nations monitoring mission in Ukraine released on Tuesday (June 27) said Russia has detained more than 800 civilians and executed 77 of them since the beginning of the Ukraine war, over a year ago. The report also noted that more than 900 detentions took place in both Ukraine and Russia which included children and elderly people.&nbsp;

<h2>What did the report find?</h2>

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine presented the findings of its 36-page report based on 70 visits to detention centres, 274 site visits, and more than 1,000 interviews at the official places of detention run by Ukrainian authorities.

Speaking at a press conference in Geneva via video link from Uzhhorod, Ukraine, Matilda Bogner, head of the UN mission in Ukraine said, “We documented over 900 cases of arbitrary detention of civilians, including children, and elderly people.”&nbsp;

She added, “The vast majority of these cases were perpetrated by the Russian Federation.” The report addresses the period from the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24 last year until May 23 this year.&nbsp;

However, the number could be much higher since Russia did not grant any access to its places of detentions or detainees for the visits or interviews, despite many requests, said the UN official. On the other hand, Ukraine gave UN investigators full access to official places of detention and detainees with one exception.

<h2>‘Widespread torture and ill-treatment’ of detainees on both sides</h2>

Presenting the findings of the report, the UN mission in Ukraine said Russian forces, law enforcement, and penitentiary authorities have “engaged in widespread torture and ill-treatment of civilian detainees.” Bogner said that over 91 per cent of those civilians detained by Russia told UN investigators that they are been subjected to torture and ill-treatment.

“Torture was used to force victims to confess to helping Ukrainian armed forces, compel them to cooperate with the occupying authorities, or intimidate those with pro-Ukrainian views,” said Bogner. According to the report, victims told UN investigators that they were subjected to sexual violence including rape and electric shocks to the genitals.&nbsp;

Furthermore, the UN report also claimed that some other methods of torture included, punching and cutting detainees, strangling, waterboarding, electric shocks, deprivation of water and food, putting sharp objects under fingernails and mock executions.&nbsp;

This was in addition to so-called welcome beatings and random group beatings, said the UN report, citing some conflict-related detainees, as per AFP. &nbsp;

Meanwhile, on the Ukrainian side, “Over half of those arbitrarily detained were subjected to torture or ill-treatment by Ukrainian security forces,” said Bogner, adding that this would happen when “people were being interrogated, usually immediately after arrest.”

<h2>‘It is a war crime’: Bogner about Russian executions</h2>

“We documented the summary execution of 77 civilians while they were arbitrarily detained by the Russian Federation,” said the UN mission in Ukraine. This was in addition to 864 individual cases of arbitrary detention by Russia which included 763 men, 94 women and seven boys, said the UN report.&nbsp;

However, many of them are now said to have amounted to enforced disappearances. Addressing the press conference, she said that the 77 executions attributed to Russia are “a war crime... it’s also a gross violation of international human rights law.”&nbsp;

Bogner also said at least a quarter of the known cases of civilians arbitrarily detained by Moscow, were transferred to other locations within Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine or deported to Russia. While more than half of the civilians have been released some remain “disappeared,” said the UN mission in Ukraine.

<h2>What does the UN report say about Ukraine?</h2>

According to the UN mission chief in Ukraine, no executions were documented on the Ukrainian side. But they did document 75 individual cases of arbitrary detention of civilians by the Ukrainian forces who were predominantly suspected of conflict-related offences.&nbsp;

The report also noted how changes to Ukraine’s criminal codes had given Kyiv greater discretion to carry out such practices. The UN investigators also found that a significant proportion of the arbitrary detention amounted to enforced disappearances which were carried out predominantly by the Security Service of Ukraine.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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A report by the United Nations monitoring mission in Ukraine released on Tuesday (June 27) said Russia has detained more than 800 civilians and executed 77 of them since the beginning of the Ukraine war, over a year ago.

A report by the United Nations monitoring mission in Ukraine released on Tuesday (June 27) said Russia has detained more than 800 civilians and executed 77 of them since the beginning of the Ukraine war, over a year ago. The report also noted that more than 900 detentions took place in both Ukraine and Russia which included children and elderly people. What did the report find? The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine presented the findings of its 36-page report based on 70 visits to detention centres, 274 site visits, and more than 1,000 interviews at the official places of detention run by Ukrainian authorities. Speaking at a press conference in Geneva via video link from Uzhhorod, Ukraine, Matilda Bogner, head of the UN mission in Ukraine said, “We documented over 900 cases of arbitrary detention of civilians, including children, and elderly people.” She added, “The vast majority of these cases were perpetrated by the Russian Federation.” The report addresses the period from the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24 last year until May 23 this year. However, the number could be much higher since Russia did not grant any access to its places of detentions or detainees for the visits or interviews, despite many requests, said the UN official. On the other hand, Ukraine gave UN investigators full access to official places of detention and detainees with one exception. ‘Widespread torture and ill-treatment’ of detainees on both sides Presenting the findings of the report, the UN mission in Ukraine said Russian forces, law enforcement, and penitentiary authorities have “engaged in widespread torture and ill-treatment of civilian detainees.” Bogner said that over 91 per cent of those civilians detained by Russia told UN investigators that they are been subjected to torture and ill-treatment. “Torture was used to force victims to confess to helping Ukrainian armed forces, compel them to cooperate with the occupying authorities, or intimidate those with pro-Ukrainian views,” said Bogner. According to the report, victims told UN investigators that they were subjected to sexual violence including rape and electric shocks to the genitals. Furthermore, the UN report also claimed that some other methods of torture included, punching and cutting detainees, strangling, waterboarding, electric shocks, deprivation of water and food, putting sharp objects under fingernails and mock executions. This was in addition to so-called welcome beatings and random group beatings, said the UN report, citing some conflict-related detainees, as per AFP. Meanwhile, on the Ukrainian side, “Over half of those arbitrarily detained were subjected to torture or ill-treatment by Ukrainian security forces,” said Bogner, adding that this would happen when “people were being interrogated, usually immediately after arrest.” ‘It is a war crime’: Bogner about Russian executions “We documented the summary execution of 77 civilians while they were arbitrarily detained by the Russian Federation,” said the UN mission in Ukraine. This was in addition to 864 individual cases of arbitrary detention by Russia which included 763 men, 94 women and seven boys, said the UN report. However, many of them are now said to have amounted to enforced disappearances. Addressing the press conference, she said that the 77 executions attributed to Russia are “a war crime... it’s also a gross violation of international human rights law.” Bogner also said at least a quarter of the known cases of civilians arbitrarily detained by Moscow, were transferred to other locations within Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine or deported to Russia. While more than half of the civilians have been released some remain “disappeared,” said the UN mission in Ukraine. What does the UN report say about Ukraine? According to the UN mission chief in Ukraine, no executions were documented on the Ukrainian side. But they did document 75 individual cases of arbitrary detention of civilians by the Ukrainian forces who were predominantly suspected of conflict-related offences. The report also noted how changes to Ukraine’s criminal codes had given Kyiv greater discretion to carry out such practices. The UN investigators also found that a significant proportion of the arbitrary detention amounted to enforced disappearances which were carried out predominantly by the Security Service of Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia detained hundreds, executed 77 civilians since Ukraine war began: UN

India keeps up its tradition of contributing to the United Nations peacekeeping missions. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has appointed India's Lieutenant General Mohan Subramanian as a commander of the UN Peacekeeping force in South Sudan.

India to head UN team in South Sudan

The United Nations envoy to Afghanistan on Thursday urged the Taliban to take up an offer by the Afghan government of direct talks on peace.

&quot;The offer of negotiation is on the table,&quot; said Tadamichi Yamamoto at a Security Council meeting to mark the annual renewal of the UN mission to the war-torn country.

&quot;It is now incumbent upon the Taliban to come forward with an offer of their own, and start direct talks with the government to put an end to the suffering of the Afghan people,&quot; he said.

&quot;Making peace and reaching out to opponents requires resolve, courage and above all national unity,&quot; he added. &quot;Political leaders need to place the national interest above partisan agenda.&quot;

He said he hoped that parliamentary elections could be held in 2018 and a presidential vote in 2019.

He also expressed concern about the growing number of civilian casualties at the hands of the Islamic State group in Khorasan province.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) was launched in March 2002 to help Afghans build a more stable and peaceful society, although 16 years later the country is still racked by violence and instability.&nbsp;

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani recently unveiled a plan to open talks with the Taliban, including eventually recognizing them as a political party.

In return, Ghani said the militants should officially recognize the Afghan government and constitution, a perennial sticking point in past attempts to open talks.

'The offer of negotiation is on the table,' said Tadamichi Yamamoto at a Security Council meeting to mark the annual renewal of the UN mission to the war-torn country

The United Nations envoy to Afghanistan on Thursday urged the Taliban to take up an offer by the Afghan government of direct talks on peace. "The offer of negotiation is on the table," said Tadamichi Yamamoto at a Security Council meeting to mark the annual renewal of the UN mission to the war-torn country. "It is now incumbent upon the Taliban to come forward with an offer of their own, and start direct talks with the government to put an end to the suffering of the Afghan people," he said. "Making peace and reaching out to opponents requires resolve, courage and above all national unity," he added. "Political leaders need to place the national interest above partisan agenda." He said he hoped that parliamentary elections could be held in 2018 and a presidential vote in 2019. He also expressed concern about the growing number of civilian casualties at the hands of the Islamic State group in Khorasan province. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) was launched in March 2002 to help Afghans build a more stable and peaceful society, although 16 years later the country is still racked by violence and instability. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani recently unveiled a plan to open talks with the Taliban, including eventually recognizing them as a political party. In return, Ghani said the militants should officially recognize the Afghan government and constitution, a perennial sticking point in past attempts to open talks.

United Nations calls on Taliban to take up offer of direct talks

In an accident, two Dutch UN peacekeepers were killed and one seriously wounded on Wednesday in an explosion in north west Mali during a training exercise, the Dutch defence ministry said. 
 
&quot;During the accident, two of our men lost their lives,&quot; said Netherlands&#39; vice chief of defence, Vice Admiral Rob Bauer. 
 
&quot;Another 23-year-old soldier was seriously wounded,&quot; Bauer told reporters in The Hague at a hastily-convened press conference after the incident in the Malian town of Kidal. 
 
The injured man was operated on in a field hospital and then taken to a military hospital in northern Gao. 
 
The defence ministry named the two men as Corporal Kevin Roggeveld, 24, and Sergeant Henry Hoving. 
 
Officials with the UN mission in Mali said in a statement that &quot;an accidental explosion of a shell caused the deaths of two MINUSMA peacekeepers during a training exercise&quot; in Kidal. 
 
MINUSMA has launched an internal investigation, while Bauer said &quot;we do not know exactly what happened and we don&#39;t want to speculate&quot;. 
 
The Netherlands has been taking part in the UN stabilisation mission in the west African nation since April 2014, and has deployed some 400 troops, four Apache helicopters and three Chinooks, the Dutch news agency ANP said. 
 
The UN mission was deployed in Mali in July 2013 as part of an international effort against jihadist groups which overran the country&#39;s northern territory. 
 
The north continues to be beset by violence having fallen under the control of Tuareg-led rebels and jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in 2012. 
 
The Islamists sidelined the rebels to take sole control, and although they were largely ousted by a French-led military operation in January 2013, extremist groups still pose a threat. 
 
The UN Security Council last month decided to send 2,500 extra peacekeepers to Mali, authorising the force to take &quot;all necessary means&quot; to deter attacks in what has become the UN&#39;s deadliest mission. 
 
(AFP)

A third injured soldier was operated on in a field hospital and then moved to a military hospital in northern Gao

In an accident, two Dutch UN peacekeepers were killed and one seriously wounded on Wednesday in an explosion in north west Mali during a training exercise, the Dutch defence ministry said. "During the accident, two of our men lost their lives," said Netherlands' vice chief of defence, Vice Admiral Rob Bauer. "Another 23-year-old soldier was seriously wounded," Bauer told reporters in The Hague at a hastily-convened press conference after the incident in the Malian town of Kidal. The injured man was operated on in a field hospital and then taken to a military hospital in northern Gao. The defence ministry named the two men as Corporal Kevin Roggeveld, 24, and Sergeant Henry Hoving. Officials with the UN mission in Mali said in a statement that "an accidental explosion of a shell caused the deaths of two MINUSMA peacekeepers during a training exercise" in Kidal. MINUSMA has launched an internal investigation, while Bauer said "we do not know exactly what happened and we don't want to speculate". The Netherlands has been taking part in the UN stabilisation mission in the west African nation since April 2014, and has deployed some 400 troops, four Apache helicopters and three Chinooks, the Dutch news agency ANP said. The UN mission was deployed in Mali in July 2013 as part of an international effort against jihadist groups which overran the country's northern territory. The north continues to be beset by violence having fallen under the control of Tuareg-led rebels and jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in 2012. The Islamists sidelined the rebels to take sole control, and although they were largely ousted by a French-led military operation in January 2013, extremist groups still pose a threat. The UN Security Council last month decided to send 2,500 extra peacekeepers to Mali, authorising the force to take "all necessary means" to deter attacks in what has become the UN's deadliest mission. (AFP)

Two Dutch UN troops killed in Mali training accident

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UN mission in Mali officially concludes 10-year deployment

Russia detained hundreds, executed 77 civilians since Ukraine war began: UN

India to head UN team in South Sudan

United Nations calls on Taliban to take up offer of direct talks

Two Dutch UN troops killed in Mali training accident