Bamako – The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) has commended China’s peacekeeping efforts in Mali.
Michael Lollesgaard, MINUSMA force Commander said on Thursday in Bamako that Chinese peacekeepers were performing well.
He described their work as `impeccable.’
He said that China’s support to African Union (AU) was timely and significant; adding that some parts of the continent was still grappling with insecurity.
In 2012, a military coup and armed attacks against the government plunged Mali into chaos and violence with the northern part of the country mostly affected by the crisis.
Although a peace agreement was signed in June 2015, certain cities in the North such as Kidal are still controlled by the Touareg rebel group and the Coordination of Azawad Movement.
In 2013, China sent peacekeepers to the country.
Currently about 400 Chinese peacekeepers are carrying out various UN missions in the northern town of Gao which is still facing numerous security challenges.
China has stepped up its peacekeeping efforts globally in the past two decades.
In September, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced at a UN summit that China would contribute 8,000 troops for the UN peacekeeping standby force.
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He also pledged that China would provide military aid worth 100 million U.S. dollars to the AU to support the establishment of the African Standby Force.
China is also set to deploy helicopters to UN peacekeeping missions in Africa. (Xinhua/NAN)
