As per reports, Russia utilized its veto power to block a United Nations Security Council resolution on sanctions against Mali. The resolution, jointly drafted by France and the United Arab Emirates, aimed to extend UN sanctions and independent monitoring in Mali for an additional year. Out of the 15 members of the UN Security Council, thirteen were in favor of the proposal.

The proposal, backed by Mali's former colonial power France and the United Arab Emirates, sought to continue the sanctions and monitoring to support a peace agreement in the long-troubled Sahel country. However, Russia's ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, exercised the country's veto power to halt the resolution. In contrast, China chose to abstain from voting on the matter.

"It is fundamentally important that UN Security Council sanctions deal purely with that issue and not be used as a means of foreign influence on Mali, and that is something that the panel of experts of the Security Council has been involved in," he said.

Russia faced condemnation from Western powers as it attempted to counteract the panel's precarious discussion of actions carried out by Malian forces and their "foreign security partners," a direct allusion to Wagner.

In recent weeks, the Security Council received a report highlighting that the violence against women, purportedly perpetrated by the Malian Armed Forces and their associates, both foreign and local, displays characteristics of being systematic and coordinated.

According to US envoy Robert Wood, imposing sanctions without the presence of experts to oversee their implementation would render the entire endeavour "ineffective."

"Russia seeks to eliminate the panel of experts' mandate to stifle publication of uncomfortable truths about Wagner's actions in Mali which require attention," Wood said.

"Too many people continue to suffer from the ongoing violence and due to Russia's actions, this Council has failed to renew some of the most important international initiatives for addressing this crisis," he added.

The United Kingdom expressed deep regret over Russia's "reckless use" of the veto concerning the extension of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions against Mali.

During the UNSC session on Mali, James Kariuki, the UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, conveyed, "The United Kingdom cannot endorse Russia's proposal to disband the Panel of Experts on Mali, nor its endeavour to preordain the conclusion of sanctions measures."

Kariuki stated that despite navigating challenging compromises, the UK chose to cast a favourable vote for the resolution due to its significant endorsement of extending the Mali sanctions regime and sustaining the Panel of Experts' mandate. He characterized these as "vital instruments in promoting peace and stability in Mali."

“For this reason, the UK deeply regrets Russia’s reckless use of the veto. This will reduce the Council’s oversight and engagement on Mali’s peace process at a critical juncture,” he added.

Image source: The Guardian