The mission is reported to be the most dangerous in the history of the UN's existence
Source: Centre of Peacekeeping Operations of MoD RK
Two military personnel from the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan have returned to their homeland after a year of service as part of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), as reported by Sarbaz.kz.
They are the first and only military personnel from Kazakhstan who participated in a mission in the African Republic. This follows the unanimous resolution by the UN Security Council on June 30 of this year, ending the MINUSMA's operations at the request of the transitional government of Mali.
According to Sarbaz.kz, the Center for Peacekeeping Operations of the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan, the mission in Mali, which was established on April 25, 2013, was the most dangerous of all UN peacekeeping operations. Over the course of 10 years, 309 peacekeepers lost their lives in the line of duty. The mission was also one of the largest, with a total personnel of 15,000 when it closed.
One of the military personnel, Senior Officer and Instructor at the Center for Peacekeeping Operations of the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan, Lieutenant Colonel Ermek Tulesov, who recently returned from the Republic of Mali, mentioned that the final phase of closing the mission and withdrawing peacekeeping forces from the African Republic is currently underway.
For a year, the two Kazakh military personnel served as staff officers, coordinating various tasks, interacting with MINUSMA components, and providing logistical support to the mission.
Lieutenant Colonel E. Tulesov mentioned that the mission was challenging. In a constantly changing environment, they needed to stay informed about the situation and the level of support in all mission sectors.
"We collected and analyzed information, prepared recommendations and proposals to the mission's headquarters regarding technical support, and also inspected and checked the readiness of UN bases in the sectors and areas of responsibility," noted Ermek Tulesov.
In Kazakhstan, the military personnel plan to continue their teaching activities at the Center for Peacekeeping Operations of the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan, preparing peacekeepers for other UN missions and sharing valuable experience with young military personnel, as Lieutenant Colonel Ermek Tulesov has participated in multiple peacekeeping missions. Several years ago, he served as part of the UN mission in Western Sahara.