By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, April 25 -- When UN Peacekeeping boss Herve Ladsous was asked “who will disarm the MNLA” in Mali by Inner City Press on Thursday morning, he said “I don't respond to you.” Video here.
Inner City Press then asked at the UN noon briefing, would the UN mission in Mali be involved in any (involuntary) disarmament in Kidal or elsewhere in Mali?
UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said he would ask Ladsous' DPKO. Three hours later what his office sent was just a quote from the resolution adopted in the morning:
Subject: Your question on the Mali UN Mission
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Thu, Apr 25, 2013 at 3:42 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com
Cc: Martin Nesirky [at] un.org
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Thu, Apr 25, 2013 at 3:42 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com
Cc: Martin Nesirky [at] un.org
Reagrding the Mission's disarmament responsibilities, please note that the resolution today specificies:
(v) To assist the transitional authorities of Mali in developing and implementing programmes for the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) of former combatants and the dismantling of militias and self-defence groups, consistent with the objectives of reconciliation and taking into account the specific needs of demobilized children.
But as more than one Security Council member told Inner City Press, the MNLA probably will not, and should not be expected to, voluntarily disarm before negotiations with the government.
Meanwhile, Mali's foreign minister Coulibaly told Inner City Press on Thursday that the MNLA would have to disarm BEFORE any talks.
Ladsous' refusal to answer, and the UN's bureaucratic answer, may only embolden that position, as in the Democratic Republic of Congo, that UN muscle flexing will provide a military solution. Lad chance.
