MINUSMA - United Nations police in the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali

United Nations - Police Commissioner Issoufou Yacouba explains the policing mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). Based on the mandate, United Nations police supports the restoration and extension of state authority throughout the territory of Mali. This includes, the protection of civilians through patrols, escorts and deterring crime, as well as support to the Malian security forces. The police component in MINUSMA further supports the handling of free and fair elections and the reform of the Malian security forces, including gender mainstreaming in the gendarmerie and national guard.
The main challenges of the police component include the direct attacks of UN personnel and property as well as the difficulty of intelligence gathering to prevent, respond and address criminal activity in Mali.
United Nations police are deployed in 11 peacekeeping operations, as well as 6 Special Political Missions to help restore confidence in host-State police and rule of law structures and serving to protect civilians, providing electoral and border security and management, limiting the effects of transnational organised crime, investigating and preventing cases of sexual and gender-based violence. Over 12,000 UN police officers from 90 countries serve the United Nations as individual police officers (IPOs), in formed police units (FPUs) or as United Nations staff (P-staff).
For more information, visit: www.un.org/police