The United Nations Security Council has approved more than 12,600 peacekeeping forces for the West African country of Mali.

The peacekeeping forces comprising 11,200 military personnel and 1,440 international police will be present in Mali from July 1st.

The force, to be known as MINUSMA, will be backed by French troops, if necessary, to combat fighters in the African country.

The Security Council resolution was proposed by France, which invaded Mali in January this year.

France began to withdraw some of its 4,000 troops in April. However, some 1,000 French soldiers will remain in Mali.

The French-led war on Mali has caused a serious humanitarian crisis in the northern areas of the country and has displaced thousands of people, who now live in deplorable conditions.

On February 27, John Ging, the director of operations for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said about 200,000 Malian children were not getting any education.

Amnesty International also said on February 1 that serious human rights breaches - including the killing of children - were being conducted in Mali.

Some political analysts believe Mali's abundant natural resources, including gold and uranium reserves, could be one of the reasons behind the French war against the African country.