An Cosantóir

35 On the 01 January 2021, Ireland took its non-permanent member seat on the United Nations Security Council for the next two years. The United Nations has been a cornerstone of Ireland's global engagement since 1955. The principles and values enshrined in the UN Charter are those Ireland has always striven to promote and protect. Ireland has been one of the strongest and most consistent supporters of the three pillars of the UN's work: peace and security, development and human rights. The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was established by Security Council resolution 2100 of 25 April 2013 to support political processes in Mali and carry out a number of security-related tasks. The Mission was asked to support the transitional authorities of Mali in the stabilisation of the country and implementation of the transitional roadmap. By unanimously adopting resolution 2164 of 25 June 2014, the Council further decided that the Mission should focus on duties, such as ensuring security, stabilisation and protection of civilians; supporting national political dialogue and reconciliation; and assisting the reestablishment of State authority, the rebuilding of the security sector, and the promotion and protection of human rights in that country. Under the terms of the most recent renewal of the resolution (Resolution 2531 – 2020), the mission supports the political process and carries out a number of security-related stabilisation tasks, with a focus on major population centres and lines of communication, protecting civilians, human rights monitoring, the creation of conditions for the provision of humanitarian assistance and the return of displaced persons, the extension of State authority and the preparation of free, inclusive and peaceful elections. In early September 2019, the Defence Forces deployed a contingent of special operations forces (SOF) personnel as part of the German-led Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Task Force (ISR TF) located in Sector East, MINUSMA. These personnel, drawn from the Army Ranger Wing, along with other personnel from Germany, Belgium, Lithuania, Switzerland, Estonia, Czech Republic and Romania are located at Camp Castor in Gao (North Eastern Mali). ARW MALI ARW MALI By Member of ARW Photos by ARW A member of the ARW standing watch in front of a Mowag Eagle while out on patrol The ARW standing watch in the German Mowag Eagle vehicles they use for mobile patrols

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