In 2014, Sweden sent 250 soldiers to Mali for a mission against Islamic extremism in an ongoing conflict and peacekeeping zone, which has become one of the deadliest UN peacekeeping missions in history. Embedded journalist Annica Ögren reported on the operation in Mali, highlighting the Swedish contingency’s efforts and challenges as separatist and Islamist groups battled for control over the region of Azawad. Ögren depicts both the cruelty of the conflict and the Swedish soldiers’ perspectives on the mission’s importance. In summary, this report reflects a journalist’s firsthand account of Sweden’s support for a UN initiative providing security for the local civilian population.