Security Council hears warnings: Mali may be trapped in an "endless cycle of instability"
Photo: © MINUSMA/Harandane Dicko Mission Maria peacekeepers patrolling Argylok, Mali.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Qasim Wani, told the Security Council today that a decade after the outbreak of the civil war in the West African country of Mali, the desire for an early resolution of the insurgency and conflict remains unfulfilled.
Instead, the envoy explained, "insecurity is widening, the humanitarian situation is deteriorating, more children are out of school and Mali is being affected by an endless cycle of instability." ”
In fact, the figure is expected to exceed 1.8 million in 2022 compared to 1.3 million people in need of food assistance in 2021, the worst state of the situation in terms of food security since 2014.
More than 500,000 children have been affected by school closures, leaving "the future of mali's country in jeopardy," Vani said.
Despite these challenges, Vani believes that "the situation will get worse" without the involvement of the international community, including the deployment of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission (MINUSMA) in 2013.
After a series of setbacks since early 2012, including an attempted military coup, renewed fighting between government forces and Tuareg rebels, and the seizure of territory in its north by radical extremists, the Mali government has been seeking to restore stability.
confrontation
The Special Representative also informed the Council of the ongoing confrontation between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the leadership of the military-controlled Transitional Government of Mali.
Over the weekend, ECOWAS held a special summit and decided that it was "totally unacceptable" to the five-and-a-half-year transition timetable that had been proposed.
They urged the Malian authorities to focus on a speedy restoration of constitutional order, and they decided to maintain the different individual sanctions imposed on December 12 and impose more.
The new sanctions include recalling ambassadors from Bamako, closing land and air borders, suspending all commercial and financial transactions (with some exemptions), and suspending financial assistance.
In response, Mali recalled its ambassadors to ECOWAS member states and closed its borders with those countries.
However, transitional President Colonel Assimi Goita, speaking to the nation on Monday night, called for unity and calm and said Mali remained open to dialogue.
Wani noted that support for the transition is a key aspect of MINUSMA's mandate and that the mission will therefore work to find a mutually agreed way out to break the deadlock.
"The prolonged impasse will make it more difficult to find a mutually agreed way out, while increasing the difficulties of the population and further weakening the capacity of the state," he said, warning that the situation would have "far-reaching implications for Mali and its neighbours."
In addition to the political transition, Wani believes that it is also crucial for the Security Council to continue to focus on the implementation of the peace agreement and to maintain stability in the heart of this divided country, saying that these are the two "cornerstones" of peace and stability in Mali.
"Window of Opportunity"
Back in December, a national consultative process called the National Reconstruction Congress (Assises nationales de la refondation) adopted a series of key recommendations, including a constitutional review, the establishment of the Senate, the acceleration of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process and territorial decentralization.
The proposals "provide a window of opportunity on which all stakeholders should continue to advance the implementation of the peace agreement," Varney said. ”
The Special Representative also provided an update on MINUSMA activities and noted that there were more extremist attacks in 2021 than in any previous year.
As a result of a significant increase in attacks on major hubs, convoys, camps and temporary operating bases, the Mission experienced its highest number of casualties since the mission's formation in 2013 in 2021.
In December last year, a total of 28 peacekeepers, including seven peacekeepers of Togolese nationality, were killed.
Humanitarian situation
The conflict has also had a devastating impact on the civilian population and the humanitarian situation.
On 3 December, 32 civilians, including 26 women and children, were killed in an extremist attack near Pine Lake.
In just one year, the number of internally displaced persons has increased from 216,000 to more than 400,000.
In such difficult circumstances, Vani described the response to the UN-launched humanitarian appeal as "lukewarm", having received only 38% of funding so far.
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