Since the spring of 2013, there are Swedish staff officers at the MINUSMA headquarters in Bamako, in the staff of MINUSMA sector West and at the headquarters of the multinational intelligence unit ASIFU in Bamako.
In December 2014, staff from the Swedish intelligence unit Mali 01 started to arrive at the future camp outside of Timbuktu. The establishment force Mali 00, set up by Ing 2, had then been working on the construction of the camp since November that same year.
The Swedes, along with corresponding Dutch units in Gao, make up part of the multinational and independent intelligence unit ASIFU (All Sources Information Fusion Unit).
Sweden contributes an ISR Task Force; the abbreviation ISR stands for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance. The unit mainly operates in MINUSMA sector WEST and is stationed at Camp Nobel outside of Timbuktu, but can, if necessary, conduct operations throughout Mali.
Tasks
UN Security Council Resolution 2227 gives MINUSMA its mandate to carry out four prioritised tasks and two additional tasks:
- Security, stabilisation and protection of civilians.
- Support for national political dialogue and reconciliation
- Support for the re-establishment of the Malian authorities' control over its own territory and the rebuilding of the Malian security sector; promotion and support of human rights and support for humanitarian aid.
- Support the parties in fulfilling the peace treaty that was signed on 20 June 2015.
The two additional tasks are to:
- Protect UN personnel
- Support the preservation of cultural values
The mission of the Swedish intelligence unit is to support MINUSMA in the realisation of the Security Council mandate, by providing intelligence that can be used to make decisions within MINUSMA. Once complete, the force will consist of around 250 people.
The unit gets logistic support by a national support unit stationed in Bamako.
Background
On 25 April 2013, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 2100, which, pursuant to Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, established a UN-led stabilising mission in Mali called MINUSMA (United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali*). On 1 July 2013, the military forces of the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) was integrated into the UN mission.
Resolution 2100 authorises MINUSMA to take any and all necessary measures to deter threats and to prevent the returned of armed groups, primarily to northern Mali. A mandate was also given to take any and all necessary measures to protect civilians who were in imminent danger of being subjected to physical violence, to protect UN facilities and equipment and to ensure freedom of movement for UN personnel.
In Resolution 2164 of June 2014, the Security Council requested that MINUSMA would expand its operations in the northern part of the country, and specifically demanded protection for women and children affected by the conflict.
*) Based on the French: Mission multidimensionnelle intégrée des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation au Mali