Mali Orders The Suspension Of All New Rotations Of UN Peacekeeping Forces

MINUSMA has some 13,000 soldiers and nearly 2,000 police in Mali  

VOA: Mali Suspends Rotation of UN Forces  

Bamako, Mali — Mali's military government has suspended the rotation of U.N. military and police forces following the renewal late last month of the mandate of the U.N. mission there. 

The government announced in a written statement that, for “national security” reasons, “all rotations of the military contingent and police contingent of MINUSMA” were suspended as of Thursday. 

The suspension comes after Mali arrested 49 soldiers from Ivory Coast on Sunday.  

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WNU Editor: This suspension comes amid tensions over Mali's arrest of nearly 50 Ivorian soldiers, who the Ivory Coast said were working with the UN peacekeeping mission .... Mali detains Ivorian soldiers, accuses them of being mercenaries (RFI).  

Update: It looks like UN troops are not going to be permitted to leave .... Mali stops 8 German soldiers from leaving amid troop lockdown (The SUN). 

Mali Orders The Suspension Of All New Rotations Of UN Peacekeeping Forces 

Mali to suspend all new UN peacekeeping rotations for 'national security' reasons -- France 24  

Mali orders suspension of U.N. peacekeeping mission rotations -- Reuters  

Mali orders suspension of all new UN peacekeeping rotations -- DW  

Mali suspends all new rotations of UN peacekeeping forces -- Al Jazeera