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CANADIAN PEACEKEEPERS: MISSION TO MALI CREDITS Video duration – 14: 54 News in Review

CANADIAN PEACEKEEPERS: MISSION TO MALI CREDITS Video duration – 14: 54 News in Review is produced by CBC NEWS and curio. ca Canadian troops have joined the UN peacekeeping mission to Mali. While only a one-year mission, it could be one of the toughest our troops have faced. Mali is considered the deadliest peacekeeping mission to date, with 170 peacekeepers killed there since 2013. The landlocked West African country has been torn apart by ethnic insurgency and terrorist groups since 2012. The Canadian forces are joining about 13, 000 international troops to provide medical evacuations and aerial support. The CBC’s Adrienne Arsenault joined the advance team as they arrived to see what they face firsthand. Guide Writer: Jennifer Watt Editor: Sean Dolan RELATED CONTENT CBC authorizes reproduction of material contained in this guide for educational purposes. Please identify source. Keeping Canada Safe, Episode 4 Is Canada keeping its peacekeeping promise? News in Review, Sep 1992 – Bosnia: A Peacekeeper's Nightmare News in Review, Dec 1993 – Death in Somalia: Rules of Engagement • News in Review, Nov 2000 – UN Peacekeeping in the New Millennium • News in Review, Nov 2002 – Canadian Military: Too Many Cuts? • • Video Host: Michael Serapio Senior Producer: Jordanna Lake Packaging Producer: Marie-Hélène Savard Associate Producer: Francine Laprotte Supervising Manager: Laraine Bone Visit www. curio. ca/newsinreview for an archive of all previous News In Review seasons. As a companion resource, go to www. cbc. ca/news for additional articles. News In Review is distributed by: curio. ca | CBC Media Solutions © 2018 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

VIDEO REVIEW curio. ca/newsinreview /3

VIDEO REVIEW curio. ca/newsinreview /3

BEFORE VIEWING Backgrounder: Peacekeeping and Mali Do you think it is a good idea

BEFORE VIEWING Backgrounder: Peacekeeping and Mali Do you think it is a good idea to send Canadian troops to foreign nations to prevent wars or do you think this idea is a recipe for disaster? Since the end of World War Two, a majority of Canadians would say that it is worth both the cost and risk to send Canadian troops to prevent wars and keep the peace in other countries. The tradition probably started in the 1950 s when Lester Pearson (who would later become Canada’s prime minister) won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in bringing a diplomatic resolution to the famous Suez Crisis. Canadian Peacekeepers: Mission to Mali By the 1990 s, Canada was the largest contributor in the world to peacekeeping missions with thousands of Canadian “blue helmets” deployed as UN peacekeepers around the world. But today Canada is no longer regarded as a significant global peacekeeper. In the spring of 2018, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) reported that 22 soldiers along with 18 support personnel were deployed on peacekeeping missions around the world. What happened to cause this dramatic drop? Some people claim curio. ca/newsinreview /4

that failed peacekeeping missions — like the ones in Rwanda, Bosnia and Somalia —

that failed peacekeeping missions — like the ones in Rwanda, Bosnia and Somalia — have shown how difficult it is to act as a global peacekeeper. Meanwhile, others argue that UN peacekeeping missions, even when they don’t completely secure the peace, are effective in saving civilian lives. They believe that Canada, as a global citizen, needs to resurrect its peacekeeping initiatives and focus on a more humanitarian approach to military interventions. In 2018, the CAF agreed to support a yearlong aviation task force in Mali called Operation Presence. The mission will provide the United Nations Mission in Mali with air support and Canadian Peacekeepers: Mission to Mali give UN peacekeepers improved ability to transport troops, equipment and supplies. Operation Presence will also provide logistical support to UN forces. Canada will join over 40 other countries in trying to bring peace, development and prosperity to Mali. The West African nation has faced internal violence since 2012. However, the mission is not without its share of danger. According to the UN, 170 peacekeepers have died there since 2013, which makes it one of the UN’s deadliest peacekeeping missions to date. curio. ca/newsinreview /5

BEFORE VIEWING 1. Do you think it is important to know about a nation

BEFORE VIEWING 1. Do you think it is important to know about a nation and its people before attempting a peacekeeping mission? Why or why not? 2. Choose two (2) sets of questions to answer. Be prepared to share your answers with the class. Use the CIA World Factbook to help your answer the questions. www. cia. gov/library/publications/ the-world-factbook/geos/ml. html Where is Mali (locate Mali on a world map)? What are three important facts about Mali’s physical geography? What are the ethnicities and cultures of Where does Mali rank in terms of people living in Mali? What languages do world economies? What is Mali’s the people speak? What are the major number one export? religions of the people of Mali? What European country colonized Mali? When and how did Mali gain independence? What is Mali’s birth rate? What is the life What type of government do they expectancy for people living in Mali? have? Who is the head of state? What is Mali’s national literacy rate? How does one become a citizen? Canadian Peacekeepers: Mission to Mali curio. ca/newsinreview /6

WHILE VIEWING 1. The weather is one of the main challenges to the UN

WHILE VIEWING 1. The weather is one of the main challenges to the UN mission in Mali. TRUE or FALSE? 2. How many Canadian soldiers are being deployed to Mali? a) 250 b) 25 c) 350 3. The Canadian troops are replacing German troops in Mali. TRUE or FALSE? 4. General Jonathan Vance thinks that the Canadian deployment could be extended beyond one year. TRUE or FALSE? 5. What is the annual budget of the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali? a) 10 million b) 1 billion dollars c) 50 million dollars Canadian Peacekeepers: Mission to Mali curio. ca/newsinreview /7

6. A migration crisis is one of the main reasons for Canada’s involvement in

6. A migration crisis is one of the main reasons for Canada’s involvement in Mali. TRUE or FALSE? 7. Mali is a magnet for international jihadists. TRUE or FALSE? 8. One of the biggest problems in Mali is that we have “bad allies. ” TRUE or FALSE? Canadian Peacekeepers: Mission to Mali curio. ca/newsinreview /8

TALK PROMPTS NEW curio. ca/newsinreview /9

TALK PROMPTS NEW curio. ca/newsinreview /9

TALK PROMPT #1 Consider pausing the video and giving students the opportunity to talk

TALK PROMPT #1 Consider pausing the video and giving students the opportunity to talk to an elbow partner for a few minutes or use these questions as part of a class discussion. Pause the video after Adrienne Arsenault’s interview with General Jonathan Vance, @ 00: 00 – 04: 35 • Why do you think the Canadian government made a commitment to supporting a mission in Mali? TALK PROMPT #2 Pause the video after David Common’s interview with Aisha Ahmad, @ 10: 17 – 14: 24 • What are the characteristics of an “unwinnable war”? Does the situation in Mali meet the criteria of an unwinnable war? Canadian Peacekeepers: Mission to Mali curio. ca/newsinreview / 10

AFTER VIEWING Do you think that Canada should be involved in a peacekeeping mission

AFTER VIEWING Do you think that Canada should be involved in a peacekeeping mission in Mali? Why or why not? Map source: CIA World Factbook (2018) Canadian Peacekeepers: Mission to Mali curio. ca/newsinreview / 11

Trace the migration routes from the Mediterranean back and you find Mali and neighbouring

Trace the migration routes from the Mediterranean back and you find Mali and neighbouring Niger, sitting right at a critical crossroads. Hard to imagine solving or even managing the crisis without bringing some kind of order here.

THE STORY Activity: While you are reading Do you think that Canadian soldiers should

THE STORY Activity: While you are reading Do you think that Canadian soldiers should be involved in a peacekeeping mission in Mali? As you read, note information that supports Canadian involvement as well as information that does not support Canadian involvement. Use two different coloured highlighters or make point form notes to indicate the passages you think make arguments for and against. The main combatants in the conflict are the government of Mali (supported by France) and the Tuareg rebels and multiple Islamist groups (including al-Qaeda). Ethnic tensions in the north and south have worsened as a result of the conflict. Tuareg rebels are fighting for autonomy. Many of the more extreme Islamist armed groups are fighting for Canadian Peacekeepers: Mission to Mali implementation of Sharia law and expulsion of Western influence from the region. The new Malian government has struggled to regain stability in the country in the aftermath of a military coup in March 2012. The coup was prompted curio. ca/newsinreview / 13

by discontent over the government’s inability to deal with the insurgency in the north.

by discontent over the government’s inability to deal with the insurgency in the north. The Bamako Agreement The coup left the military and security forces divided and the government unstable. This prompted the interimpresident to request military aid from France. French troops led a military intervention that retook rebel-held cities and eventually led to a peace deal called the Bamako Agreement, which was signed in June 2015. This agreement absolved rebel leaders of their crimes and granted the Tuareg people more regional autonomy. The rise of the militias In 2016, the main alliance of Tuareg rebels split, jeopardizing the relative stability resulting from the Bamako Agreement. Al-Qaeda and other jihadist groups benefitted from the collapse of the Tuareg rebel alliance. They attacked Malian troops Canadian Peacekeepers: Mission to Mali A coup occurs when a government is suddenly overthrown and replaced by dissidents within a nation. and began kidnapping their enemies, rivals, competitors and Westerners who dared to travel to the West African nation. Al-Qaeda also provided basic security in some areas. Some wealthy people and local authorities supported community-based self-defence militias (like those offered by al-Qaeda) as a way to combat external threats. Those living curio. ca/newsinreview / 14

in rural areas in Mali witnessed the Malian army retreating when they were being

in rural areas in Mali witnessed the Malian army retreating when they were being attacked by jihadist groups and armed bandits. In response, Malian soldiers and police resorted to the use of brutal and excessive force against supporters of the rebels. This led to increased hatred of the central government by people living in rural communities. No one to trust Two of the biggest problems that continue to fuel this conflict are a lack of state services (including an impartial justice system) and the army’s history of human right abuses. It seems the people of Mali don’t have anyone they can trust. With no clear leadership in the nation, citizens seem just as likely to support a rebel group as the government. This instability and lack of trust could put Canadian troops at risk. Insurgent groups see the peacekeeping mission and the French-led counterterrorist operation as the same poison and are not afraid to attack UN forces. Canadian Peacekeepers: Mission to Mali Humanitarian crisis The European Commission on Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection reported in June 2016 that: • Over 200 000 Malians have been displaced • 180 000 children suffer from malnutrition • 1. 5 million people depend on international humanitarian assistance • 3 million people are food insecure • 423 000 need emergency food assistance. curio. ca/newsinreview / 15

Meanwhile, the UN and International Criminal Court have documented serious human rights violations in

Meanwhile, the UN and International Criminal Court have documented serious human rights violations in the conflict. These include summary executions, torture, arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearances, rape and sexual violence, pillaging and destruction of cultural property. To date, more than 100 peacekeepers have died since the UN mission’s deployment in Mali in 2013, making it one of the deadliest places to serve for the UN. Human trafficking and children A number of rebel groups have recruited and used child soldiers throughout the conflict. Children have been trained as scouts, guards at checkpoints, enforcers of Sharia law, and combatants on the front lines. Children have also been used as labourers. The gold mines in Mali are filled with child labourers from Mali and neighbouring countries like Guinea and Burkina Faso. Canadian Peacekeepers: Mission to Malian boys have also been shipped to Cote d’Ivoire to work in agriculture, mining, carpentry and construction. Malian girls have been trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation, both internally and transnationally. Further, girls have been trafficked for the purposes of domestic servitude, agricultural labour, and in supporting roles within gold mines. The government has drafted a plan to address trafficking and has devoted curio. ca/newsinreview / 16

efforts to enforcing its antitrafficking laws. Despite these steps, the government has not prosecuted

efforts to enforcing its antitrafficking laws. Despite these steps, the government has not prosecuted any traffickers – suggesting there is no real will to bring an end to the problem. a series of factors such as family concern over the safety of girls who face a higher risk of sexual violence and traditional views of the role of women in West African society. By the end of the academic year in 2016, almost 300 schools were closed in 65 regions in the north and centre of the country. It is estimated that 380 000 children aged seven to 15 are not able to attend school. Girls are less likely to be enrolled in school As these facts attest, Malian children, particularly girls, are at greater risk if some semblance of government stability is not restored to Mali. A renewed government would need to commit resources to the protection of its citizens than boys. This is attributed to and to basic human rights. It remains to be seen if the UN Canadian Peacekeepers: Mission to Mali mission will be able to help bring about this stabilizing effect. Malian craftsman have rebuilt eight mausoleums destroyed by Islamist militants in the desert city of Timbuktu. Invading Islamist fighters considered a local Sufi veneration for the tombs as idolatrous and hacked the tombs to pieces. Thousands of ancient manuscripts were also burned. Can you think of other examples of important historical artifacts being destroyed during war? curio. ca/newsinreview / 17

ACTIVITY: Considering Different Perspectives Read the two quotations (found on the following pages) from

ACTIVITY: Considering Different Perspectives Read the two quotations (found on the following pages) from articles on the topic of Canadian involvement in Mali. 1. What is the argument made in each? 2. Which argument do you think is stronger? Why? 3. What more would you like to know about the author’s in order to determine their credibility and expertise? 4. What did you learn about the Mali mission that you didn’t know before? What questions remain? Canadian Peacekeepers: Mission to Mali curio. ca/newsinreview / 18

QUOTE #1: Considering Different Perspectives Some observers have warned that it will be a

QUOTE #1: Considering Different Perspectives Some observers have warned that it will be a dangerous mission. Of course it will! Some worry that the situation in Mali is complex, with little chance of outright “victory” and no exit strategy. All true. But do we maintain a regular force of 68, 000 superbly trained service men and women, and 27, 000 reservists, only to leave the difficult and dangerous undertakings to others? Do we spend $20 -billion a year on defence only to consider risk-free endeavours? The deployment of Canadian troops to Mali is not an “invasion of Muslim lands, ” but rather part of a universally mandated stability operation involving 40 countries from all parts of the world, which is seeking to protect those 100 million people who currently inhabit the nations of the Sahel (and who will number 200 million by 2050). It is very much a humanitarian undertaking. Fowler, Robert. (March 29, 2018). The Importance of Canada’s Mission to Mali. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved at www. theglobeandmail. com/opinion/article-the-importance-of-canadas-mission-to-mali/ Canadian Peacekeepers: Mission to Mali curio. ca/newsinreview / 19

QUOTE #2: Considering Different Perspectives Part of the rationale behind the mission is obvious:

QUOTE #2: Considering Different Perspectives Part of the rationale behind the mission is obvious: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is desperate for a seat on the UN Security Council, a UN body that is remarkable for its uselessness and characterized by its dominance by tinpot dictatorships. Peacekeeping is an anachronism, and it is quite appropriate that the equally anachronistic UN keeps describing its overseas missions in that way. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Canada has largely been committed to peacemaking operations through the more robust delivery services of NATO, which did an effective job of ending civil war in the former Yugoslavia where the UN had failed. Krayden, David. (March 21, 2018). Mali Mission. CBC News. Retrieved at www. cbc. ca/news/opinion/malimission-1. 4585038 Canadian Peacekeepers: Mission to Mali curio. ca/newsinreview / 20

REFLECTION Consider the following selection of numbers. What do they reveal about the Canadian

REFLECTION Consider the following selection of numbers. What do they reveal about the Canadian government’s commitment to peacekeeping? As of the end of 2017: • 43 : Number of Canadian peacekeepers deployed worldwide • 20 : Number (from that total) of peacekeepers who were police officers. Fourteen others were military officers and nine were “experts on mission” (which can include police officers, military personnel and civilians); • 6: Number of those peacekeepers who were women (five police officers and one military officer. ) • 600 : The number of troops • 150 : The number of police officers the government promised to make available. (Source: The Canadian Press) the federal government promised, in 2016, to make available for UN peacekeeping missions; Canadian Peacekeepers: Mission to Mali curio. ca/newsinreview / 21

SOURCES Child Soldier Initiative. (January 31, 2017). Mali Country Report: Children and Security. Retrieved

SOURCES Child Soldier Initiative. (January 31, 2017). Mali Country Report: Children and Security. Retrieved at www. childsoldiers. org/wpcontent/uploads/2017/06/Mali-January-2017 -Report-1. pdf Government of Canada-Operation: PRESENCE-Mali. Retrieved from: www. canada. ca/en/services/defence/caf/operations/militaryoperations/current-operations/op-presence. html Levine, Corey. (March 19, 2018). It will take more than a few Canadian choppers to solve this West African quagmire. Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved from: https: //ottawacitizen. com/opinion/columnists/levine-mali-it-will-take-more-than-a-few-canadian-choppers-to-solve -this-west-african-quagmire Project Ploughshare. Armed conflict in Mali. Retrieved from: http: //ploughshares. ca/pl_armedconflict/mali-2012 -first-combatdeaths/ Rueter, Annie. (June 24, 2018). What Canadians need to know about our peacekeeping mission in Mali. Retrieved from: www. cbc. ca/news/world/what-canadians-need-to-know-about-our-peacekeeping-mission-in-mali-1. 4719127 The World Factbook (2018). Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved at https: //www. cia. gov/library/publications/the-worldfactbook/index. html Canadian Peacekeepers: Mission to Mali curio. ca/newsinreview / 22