WFM – Canada and a number of other peace organizations recently called for Canada to make a renewed commitment of military, civilian and police personnel to the UN’s peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

The UN Department of Peace Operations has set out mission requirements for MINUSMA that includes the kinds of needs (for helicopters, monitoring capabilities, and rapidly deployable units) that Canada is well positioned to provide.

In a press statement May 29, WFM – Canada President Walter Dorn stated, “Even during the COVID-19 crisis, UN peacekeeping is working to reduce conflict, restore peace and promote health in hotspots around the world.”

After Canada’s peacekeeping deployment in Mali in 2018-19, Canadian personnel contributions have been modest. According to WFMC’s tracking website, Canada had 34 military and police personnel deployed worldwide as of June 30. “This is a historic low and particularly disappointing,” says Dorn, “especially since Prime Minister Trudeau mandated his defence and foreign ministers to re-engage in UN peacekeeping.”

Canada’s Department of National Defence is searching for a new Chief of Defence Staff after the current CDS, Jonathan Vance, announced that he was retiring.