OCTOBER 2018 Protecting Civilians in the Context of Violent Extremism: The Dilemmas of UN Peacekeeping in Mali NAMIE DI RAZZA Cover Photo: MINUSMA’s Nigerian ABOUT THE AUTHOR contingent secures and assists a health assessment operation near the border NAMIE DI RAZZA is a Research Fellow at IPI. with Niger to detect possible cases of Email:
[email protected] Rift Valley Fever, Tamalet, Mali, October 29, 2016. Sylvain Liechti/MINUSMA. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS paper represent those of the author and not necessarily those of the The author would like to thank all those who shared their International Peace Institute. IPI insights and perspectives during interviews conducted in welcomes consideration of a wide New York, Bamako, and Mopti, and during discussions at range of perspectives in the pursuit of various events. In particular, she is grateful to MINUSMA a well-informed debate on critical and the Peacekeeping School of Bamako for facilitating policies and issues in international two “field conversations” in June and October 2018, which affairs. enabled her to gather crucial insights from stakeholders operating in Mali. IPI Publications Adam Lupel, Vice President The author is grateful to all the UN officials, military Albert Trithart, Editor officers, and member states, as well as civil society representatives, experts, and researchers who took the Gretchen Baldwin, Assistant Editor time to discuss this important topic with her. Suggested Citation: The author is also extremely thankful to those who Namie Di Razza, “Protecting Civilians in provided feedback on earlier drafts of the report. Special the Context of Violent Extremism: The thanks to Jake Sherman for his indefectible support during Dilemmas of UN Peacekeeping in Mali,” the research and writing phases that led to the publication.