Mauritania Says Would Serve in Mali Only on Its Border, UN Says Let's Talk: No Ladsous Policy?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 14 -- Can the UN let countries dictate the basis and even location of their participation in paid UN Peacekeeping missions? 

  After Mauritania made public its condition, that it will serve in the UN's MINUSMA mission in Mali only if it allowed to remain close to its own border, on August 14 Inner City Press asked:

Inner City Press: Mauritania has placed a condition on participating in MINUSMA [United Nations Stabilization Mission in Mali], that their troops can only be used along their border, and it is said that Mali would prefer that they go elsewhere, but I wonder, what is DPKO’s [Department of Peacekeeping Operations] view? Can troop-contributing countries dictate what part of a mission, geographically, they serve in?

Deputy Spokesperson Eduardo Del Buey: Well, I have seen the reports. I’ll have to check with DPKO to find out what they know and what are, or how they are, you know, what they are analyzing the situation to be.

Inner City Press: And can we find out what their policy is on this type of conditions on troop contributing?

Deputy Spokesperson Del Buey: Sure, we can.

  But when an answer was sent, presumably penned at DPKO by one of DPKO's Herve Ladsous' four spokespeople, the policy question wasn't answered:

Subject: Your question about Mali
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Wed, Aug 14, 2013 at 3:16 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com

Regarding your question on Mali, we have the following information from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO):

DPKO is aware of the media reports and welcomes pledges by all Member States, including Mauritania, to support its efforts to help stabilise Mali. The Department is in contact with Mauritania and other troop contributing countries to find ways to best support MINUSMA as the Mission carries its mandated tasks to support the people of Mali.

  Apparently, this UN will and even already does let countries dictate the basis and even location of their participation in paid UN Peacekeeping missions. Ladsousification. Watch this site.