China tipped to keep Mali ties strictly economic as UN peacekeeping mission wraps up

The UN peacekeeping presence in the West African nation ended last year at the request of the Malian military junta

Observers expect China to focus on trade and business dealings only, in line with usual policy of avoiding direct intervention in complex conflicts

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China’s UN peacekeeping troops were withdrawn from Mali in December last year. Now, it is expected Beijing will focus its diplomacy with the West African nation on economic trade and infrastructure projects instead of any kind of conflict mediation. Photo: Simon Song

Published: 4:00pm, 11 Feb 2024

Chinese peacekeepers returned in December after completing their United Nations-led mission in Mali, as the international organisation ended its 10-year peacekeeping mission at the request of the Malian military junta.

Observers have said it is likely that China’s future dealings with the troubled West African nation will be strictly non-military.

The former French colony has been battling a jihadist insurgency in the north of the country since 2012. It has also been hit by two military coups since 2020.

Now, with the exit of French troops in 2022 and UN peacekeepers at the end of last year, the Malian junta is endearing itself to China and Russia, with the latter contributing troops or mercenaries under the Wagner Group, now known as the Africa Corps.

Meanwhile, China hosted a delegation in December which included Mali’s ministers of finance, commerce and foreign affairs. During their visit, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi promised Beijing would deepen cooperation with the African nation in education, training, medical care and agriculture.

Wang also said China would help implement more schemes such as the Mali Digital project and the African Solar Belt programme to “help promote the peace and development process in Mali”.