New York, 30 June 2023 (dpa/MIA) - The United Nations will end its mission in the West African country of Mali at the end of this year after a transitional period of six months, the UN Security Council said in a unanimous resolution adopted in New York on Friday.

Mali's military government had demanded the withdrawal of the roughly 12,000 UN peacekeepers in mid-June.

The mission, in which the German Armed Forces are also involved, has been in place since 2013. The mission's mandate expired on Friday. It was extended by six months in order to wind up the mandate.

Germany, which had already decided to end its participation, wanted to withdraw its remaining 1,100 soldiers by May 31, 2024 according to previous plans.

But after increasing disputes with Mali's military government, for example overflight rights for surveillance drones, it prepared for a quicker withdrawal.

The UN relies on the consent of a respective country for peace missions. Typically, UN peace missions are terminated, in agreement with the host country, when they are no longer needed because the mission's objectives have been achieved.

Mali's military junta under Colonel Assimi Goïta justified the demand for the immediate withdrawal of all UN blue helmets by saying that the deployment no longer made sense.

"It is impossible to keep the peace in a situation where there is no peace to keep," it said in a statement in mid-June. It said the UN mission had reversed its mandate to support the Malian authorities.

Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop, in an appearance at UN headquarters in New York, accused the UN peacekeepers of having become "part of the problem" and called for the "immediate withdrawal" of the mission.

Germany's top diplomat said an orderly and clear withdrawal "that focuses on the security of the people and the security of the soldiers" must be the priority.

Speaking on Friday in Ulanbaatar, Mongolia, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that Berlin, along with its international partners and Mali's immediate neighbours, had campaigned last year to "maintain this mission, which is so important for the people of Mali.

"Unfortunately, the military government made a different decision, which is why the international community must now withdraw," Baerbock said.

The mission, known as MINUSMA, was set up after Islamist militias overran the north of the country in 2012. The militias have expanded their operations into the centre of the country and into its neighbours.

To the frustration of Western powers, Mali is cooperating with Russia's Wagner Group of mercenaries, which is reported to have up to 2,000 fighters in Mali. The Malian junta describes them as trainers.