Field Operation

Mali

The crisis that Mali has been experiencing since 2012 has become more complex with an unstable socio-political and economic context, combined with the gradual withdrawal of MINUSMA (UNSC Res. 2690, 30 June 2023). The recapture by the army of areas occupied by armed groups, and the tensions linked to the takeover of former MINUSMA bases and installations, are having a considerable impact on the protection of civilians in localities facing major security challenges.

The protection environment for civilians in the Centre (Mopti and Ségou) and North (Gao, Kidal, Ménaka and Tombouctou) regions has been severely affected by the security situation. The activities of armed groups are manifested in the intensification of attacks on villages and civilian populations, accompanied by homicides, kidnappings, ultimatums to evacuate, and so on.

Civilians are constantly faced with human rights violations, mainly in the centre and north of the country, but since 2022 the conflict has been spreading to the south of Mali, leading to forced and preventive displacement of the population. Armed violence and attacks on civilians by non-state armed groups (NSAGs) expose civilians to numerous protection risks.

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Mali

Protection Issues

The humanitarian and protection context in Mali is exposing people to major risks including attacks on civilians and other homicides, and attacks on civilian property; obstacles to or unlawful restrictions on freedom of movement, siege and forced displacement; abduction, kidnapping, enforced disappearance; arbitrary and/or illegal arrest and/or detention; psychological/emotional abuse or
distress inflicted, and sexual and gender-based violence.

Mali

Cluster Operation

The Protection Cluster in Mali was activated in 2012 to ensure the coordination of protection interventions in emergencies and to respond to the protection needs of persons affected by conflict and disasters. It is composed of the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Area of Responsibility (AoR), the Child Protection (CP) Area of Responsibility (AoR), the Mine Action (MA) Area of Responsibility (AoR) and a Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) Area of Responsibility (AoR). The Protection Cluster is led by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and co-coordinated by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC).

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Protection Cluster Team

Alimata Ouattara

Coordinator
UNHCR
Mail: [email protected]

Azeto Carine Ouedraogo

Cluster Co-Coordinator
DRC
Mail: [email protected]

Pierrot Koti

Information Management Officer
UNHCR
Mail: [email protected]

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