The UN sanctions on Mali are set to end Thursday after the Security Council failed to renew them. In August 2022, the UN renewed its travel ban and asset freeze on some individuals in the West African nation resulting from political unrest in 2015. The 2023 sanctions would have extended to “those who obstruct or threaten the 2015 peace agreement.”

The Russian Federation vetoed the extension of the sanctions, which would have extended to August 2024, because “the text did not take into consideration the positions of either [Russia] or Mali.” Instead, the representative for the Russian Federation offered an alternative sanction and stated, “If this is not adopted, then there is no coming back to discussing any further resolutions on this matter.” Due to Russia’s veto, there will be a formal General Assembly meeting to discuss within the coming weeks.

The 2015 Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, signed by the Malian government and some armed groups like the Coordination of Azawad Movements, sought to restore peace in the nation by reintegrating women and young people into initiatives, upgrading some regions’ education systems, establishing territorial police, and supporting other humanitarian efforts throughout the nation.

Beginning in 2012, groups like Amnesty International reported that Mali was experiencing a human rights crisis stemming from protests against the Malian government’s use of power, the deaths of protesters, and fighting between Tuareg rebels and the Malian military. There were also allegations of arbitrary detention of citizens, sexual violence, and extrajudicial executions. The Tuareg rebels have alleged that the Malian government committed war crimes during the conflict. In 2015, Mali faced threats to its national security when pro-government militias threatened the northern part of the nation, without any response from the Malian government.

The UN Security Council withdrew its Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) from the nation in July, which formed in 2013 to help with political processes and security efforts amidst unrest. Now, the transitional Malian government will undertake these efforts. Following this withdrawal, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it will close its embassy in Mali by the end of 2023 due to an uptick in political coups in recent years, as well as the nation’s decision to end security cooperation with France and the UN.