YouSaid · the spoken record

Wane

lines on the record: 246
first: 2016-11-18
most recent: 2023-08-28
sittings or episodes: 15
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“I call on Member States to consider additional voluntary contributions to the United Nations country team and humanitarian actors to enable them to continue providing assistance to people in need and supporting Mali’s development efforts.”
2023-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9407 (2023) · source
“I pay tribute to all our Blue Helmets, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of peace and stability in Mali. MINUSMA has made a tangible impact on the ground and provided invaluable support to the authorities and the people of Mali, in what has proved to be one of the most challenging peacekeeping operations ever undertaken by the United Nations. MINUSMA is leaving Mali, but the United Nations, through its agencies, funds and programmes, will remain in the country. Their work has never been more vital than it is today. I welcome the assurances given by the Malian authorities of their commitment to ensuring the safety of United Nations personnel.”
2023-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9407 (2023) · source
“Discussions are under way on how to consolidate and preserve the results achieved in support of our Malian partners, while seeking to maintain an environment conducive to long-term United Nations engagement with Mali and the wider region. However, challenges will remain, given the tight timetable for the Mission’s withdrawal, as well as the immediate cessation of its substantive mandate under resolution 2690 (2023), which has not allowed for a transition period as such. In that context, it is important to recognize that some tasks will not be able to be transferred effectively. As MINUSMA enters its final chapter, I should not conclude without expressing my gratitude to the troop- and police-contributing countries for their remarkable commitment.”
2023-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9407 (2023) · source
“The aim was to better explain the work that has been done and assess the prospects and practical possibility for the Malian authorities, in particular, and, where appropriate, the United Nations country team and other stakeholders, to continue tasks carried out by MINUSMA until now. Government representatives reaffirmed that they would assume their responsibilities. Members of the United Nations country team also expressed their readiness to support the authorities, based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2020–2024, and said that they would take over some of MINUSMA’s residual programmes, while stressing the need for additional resources.”
2023-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9407 (2023) · source
“Developments linked to the Mission’s withdrawal highlight the importance of the work being done in collaboration with the transitional authorities on the transfer of the tasks previously carried out by the Mission. From 2 to 4 August, together with the Government of Mali, MINUSMA hosted a three-day round table on activities in support of the transition, the peace process, the restoration of State authority, the promotion and protection of human rights and other cross-cutting issues. Representatives of the United Nations country team, the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States and the European Union capacity-building mission in Mali attended the meeting.”
2023-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9407 (2023) · source
“Similarly, the signatory movements have expressed their readiness to resolve differences peacefully and contribute to the creation of the conditions necessary for a resumption of the peace process. It is now incumbent on all the parties to transform those expressions of goodwill into concrete measures with a view to preventing a crisis that is as dangerous as it is inopportune, and to advancing the cause of peace and reconciliation in Mali, while building on the progress made over the past eight years, including by ending the armed conflict. Leading members of the Arab and Tuareg communities in Bamako launched an initiative last week to facilitate dialogue and understanding between the signatory movements and the transitional authorities in order to prevent escalation and preserve the peace agreement.”
2023-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9407 (2023) · source
“It is hardly necessary to underscore the urgency of the situation, given the very short deadline for the closure of the Mission and the limited flexibility we have in our withdrawal process. It is encouraging to note that the parties involved are aware of the delicate nature of the process and the need to manage it carefully. In several meetings with me and Under-Secretary-General Lacroix during his visit to Mali two weeks ago, the Malian authorities stressed that they had no intention of having any confrontations with the signatory movements and underscored their commitment to dialogue, in order to resolve any problems that might arise, and to the efforts being made to that end.”
2023-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9407 (2023) · source
“In the context of resolution 2690 (2023), MINUSMA has reminded and continues to remind all stakeholders of the tight timetable for the Mission’s departure and of the parameters underlying the closure of its camps, including the fact that the bases are to be legally transferred to the Malian State. In addition, the Mission continues to encourage the parties to reach an agreement in order to avoid unnecessary incidents, the consequences of which could be significant. Such incidents would indeed complicate the drawdown process, adversely affect the work of United Nations entities after the closure of the Mission and seriously compromise the prospects for resuming the implementation of the peace Agreement, which is a cornerstone of long-term stabilization in Mali.”
2023-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9407 (2023) · source
“Unsurprisingly, the parties have adopted divergent positions on the fate of the camps to be liberated by the Mission. In that respect, the transitional authorities have informed the Mission that they intend to take back all the MINUSMA camps once they have been evacuated, stressing that the peace Agreement does not abrogate the State’s responsibility to assume control of its territory in order to protect the population and ensure security. The signatory movements, on the other hand, in particular the Coordination des mouvements de l’Azawad, have invoked the 2014 security arrangements to object to the deployment of Malian armed forces in the areas they control and insist on the need to operate within the framework of the peace Agreement.”
2023-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9407 (2023) · source
“It is essential that we are able to transport equipment and materials through the Niger to those ports for subsequent repatriation to the troop- and police-contributing countries concerned. In addition to logistical and security constraints, the closure of MINUSMA also has a political dimension. That was to be expected, given that the Mission’s presence in the northern outposts contributed to the signatory parties’ compliance with the ceasefire and security arrangements, while also supporting the implementation of the 2015 Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation. The withdrawal is taking place against the backdrop of the paralysis of the peace Agreement’s monitoring structures, which have not met since November 2022, and by a serious lack of trust between the parties.”
2023-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9407 (2023) · source
“In addition to that is the fact that the terrain is difficult and insecurity omnipresent. As well as security concerns, there are logistical constraints on the withdrawal of materials and equipment from Timbuktu. We will not be able to transport more than six containers a day using barges on the Niger River during the navigable months, which run from August to November each year. With such limitations, withdrawing as planned the 2,000 loads from Timbuktu to transit zones abroad will require the identification of additional routes. The situation in the Niger is also having an impact on our withdrawal plan, which relies on the use of the Cotonou and Lomé transit zones.”
2023-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9407 (2023) · source
“It will focus on the closure of six bases: Tessalit, Aguelhok and Kidal in the north of Mali; Douentza and Mopti in the centre of the country; and Ansongo in the east. The personnel, equipment and materials concerned will be redeployed to the Timbuktu, Gao and Bamako supercamps before being repatriated to their respective countries. That phase will be extremely difficult. Convoys to evacuate personnel, equipment and materials from Tessalit, Aguelhok and Kidal to Gao, for example, will have to travel 563 kilometres in each direction for Tessalit; 415 kilometres for Aguelhok; and 352 kilometres for Kidal. At least 1,050 trucks will be needed to transport all the equipment and materials belonging to the contingents and those belonging to the United Nations.”
2023-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9407 (2023) · source
“Fortunately, there was no material damage or loss of life as a result of those attacks. With the end of the first phase, we have repatriated a total of 1,096 uniformed personnel to their respective countries, while 79 containers of materials and equipment have already been transferred out of Mali. A further reduction in uniformed personnel is expected by the end of September. With regard to civilian staff, in accordance with the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, 291 civilian staff members, including United Nations volunteers — approximately 33 per cent of our civilian staff — will have been separated by 30 September 2023. The second phase of the downsizing and withdrawal process, which we are now beginning, will run until 15 December 2023.”
2023-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9407 (2023) · source
“The withdrawal from Ber also proved difficult in the political sense, as the Malian authorities and the signatory movements to the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali disagreed on the fate of the camp after MINUSMA’s departure. The Mission, for its part, had to bring forward its departure from the camp, which took place on 13 August instead of 15 August as initially planned, owing to the spread of the fighting to the Ber area and the risks that the situation posed for peacekeepers’ safety. Similarly, convoys carrying supplies and equipment from our bases at Goundam in the Timbuktu region and Ogossagou in central Mali were targeted by improvised explosive devices, while the final convoy from Gao to Ménaka was also targeted by unidentified armed elements.”
2023-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9407 (2023) · source
“(spoke in French) Significant progress has been made to date, and we remain on track to close the Mission by 31 December 2023. However, there have been difficulties in implementing the first phase of the withdrawal plan. In that connection, our experience with the closure of Ber camp was revealing. The final convoy of peacekeepers, equipment and materials that left Ber to return to Timbuktu took 51 hours to cover the 57-kilometre route, owing to the unfavourable terrain — a situation exacerbated by the rainy season and overall insecurity. The convoy was attacked twice by unidentified armed elements, resulting in four peacekeepers injured and three vehicles damaged before they reached Timbuktu.”
2023-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9407 (2023) · source
“The departure of MINUSMA from each of those camps was accompanied by the signing, with the designated civilian representatives of the Malian authorities, of documents that attest to the state of the vacated camps and the fulfilment of the Mission’s environmental obligations. In that respect, I would like to emphasize that the Mission is making all reasonable efforts to complete environmental remediation and the removal of hazardous materials prior to returning premises to the authorities, in spite of serious time constraints and the progressive reduction of the security umbrella under which we are operating. In addition, negotiations are under way to finalize an overarching framework agreement that will spell out the obligations of the two parties in line with the relevant United Nations instruments and policies.”
2023-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9407 (2023) · source
“As outlined in the Secretary-General’s letter, the drawdown and closure of the Mission is unfolding in two phases: the period through 31 December; and, following that, the liquidation period, which will begin on 1 January 2024. The first phase of the programme and withdrawal began on 17 July, focusing on the closure of the outposts that are smallest and furthest from our supercamps in Timbuktu, Gao and Mopti and shrinking our geographical footprint by 25 per cent. On 25 August — a few days ago — we completed that first phase with the closure of the Ménaka base. Earlier this month, we successively closed the temporary operating base in Ogossagou, in the Bandiagara region of central Mali, as well as the camps in Ber and Goundam, in the Timbuktu region.”
2023-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9407 (2023) · source
“I commend the Malian authorities for the cooperation and support they have extended so far. Closing a mission built over a decade in a period of six months is a complex and ambitious endeavour. In concrete terms, it entails the repatriation of 12,947 uniformed personnel, the separation of 1,786 civilian staff, the repatriation or relocation of a load of approximately 5,500 sea containers of contingent- and United Nations-owned equipment and almost 4,000 vehicles, as well as the closure and handover of 12 camps and one temporary operating base to the Malian civilian authorities. The task is made even more challenging by a host of other constraints linked to geography, climate, logistics and infrastructure. To that, one should add the serious risks associated with the prevailing security situation.”
2023-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9407 (2023) · source
“The plan provides for the withdrawal and repatriation of the personnel and equipment deployed in MINUSMA’s areas of operation according to a precise timetable and a specific sequence, while taking into account the need for an orderly process to be conducted in complete safety. (spoke in English) Given the central importance of cooperation with the Malian authorities in ensuring that the undertaking is conducted efficiently, I met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mali on 3 July to discuss the requirements for a safe and orderly process. Subsequently, coordination mechanisms, consisting of representatives from both the transitional Government and MINUSMA, were put in place at the technical and political levels to coordinate all aspects of the withdrawal and to ensure that the 31 December deadline is respected.”
2023-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9407 (2023) · source
“I would like to thank you, Madam President, for the opportunity to update the Security Council today on the progress made in the withdrawal of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) following the 30 June decision to terminate its mandate, as requested by the Malian authorities. My remarks are intended to complement the Secretary-General’s letter of 18 August (S/2023/611). Immediately after the adoption of resolution 2690 (2023), which called for the withdrawal of the Mission to be completed by 31 December, MINUSMA, in coordination with the Secretariat, established an integrated working group to prepare a plan for the Mission’s drawdown and withdrawal.”
2023-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9407 (2023) · source
“It requires a more sustained commitment from the Government, through regular dialogue with the Mission, to broaden the scope of possibilities and take advantage of the many opportunities that exist for the benefit of the Malian people. In conclusion, and after an almost 10-year presence in Mali, I would like to stress that MINUSMA, like all the other United Nations peacekeeping operations, has a duty to create the conditions that will enable its departure by helping Mali to ensure the security of its population and its territory, and to lay the foundations for lasting stability. It is now more important than ever that we voluntarily dedicate ourselves to that task in a spirit of consultation, cooperation and complementarity.”
2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source
“There is a legitimate expectation on the part of the Malian people that our action will produce greater results, and the criticisms they have expressed are perfectly understandable. But only closer cooperation and a more trusting relationship can produce that greater effectiveness. Lastly, the degree of robustness of the mandate has continued to fuel discussions in Mali. That is obviously a matter for the Council to decide. For my part, I would like to highlight a less debated issue — that of the complementarity between the action taken by the Malian State and by MINUSMA. MINUSMA has undeniable comparative advantages that can and must be used more effectively to support the Malian State. That functional coordination depends on a relationship of trust between the Malian authorities and MINUSMA.”
2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source
“Those efforts are certainly crucial and provide invaluable support to many civilians. But let us admit that we can and must do more and better — much better, so that we can meet needs and so that our action responds better to current demands, such as the people’s demand for security, which is certainly the issue that is most widely shared in Mali. In that respect, it is impossible to overemphasize the fundamental importance of cooperation with the host country and the relationship of trust that has been built or should be built with it. It is helpful in that regard to recall the emphasis that the internal strategic review placed on the need for a stable and predictable relationship.”
2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source
“I would like to highlight our support for the ongoing transition process, the role we play as part of the international mediation, led by Algeria, to facilitate the resumption of the peace process, and the action we have taken in support of the parties in maintaining the ceasefire. It is equally important to note the stabilizing effect of the Mission’s presence in urban centres and its efforts aimed at protecting civilian populations; the multifaceted aid provided to initiatives by the Malian State to restore and extend its authority; the many projects carried out for the benefit of civilians in both the centre and the north and the contribution made to infrastructure development. Our response is resolutely multidimensional, with a view to addressing the various facets of the crisis confronting Mali.”
2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source
“One of the major human rights developments of the period was the publication of the report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Moura incident, whose conclusions elicited a strong response from the Malian authorities, who announced that an investigation would be opened. With MINUSMA’s mandate coming to an end, and with a view to the decision that the Council will have to take, it will be useful to take stock of the past year and draw lessons for our future efforts. I believe three points are important in that regard. First, despite the complex environment in which it operates and the many constraints it has to deal with, including restrictions on freedom of movement, the Mission has endeavoured to discharge its mandate as effectively as possible.”
2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source
“In that context, we have continued to support training programmes for members of the Malian Defence and Security Forces. At the same time, we have continued to investigate allegations of human rights violations, the majority of which take place remotely, owing to difficulties of access or in the absence of authorization from the authorities. Our quarterly human rights report for January through March is currently being finalized and should be published around the end of the month, following the usual consultations with the Malian Government.”
2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source
“The Mission is conducting several activities to raise public awareness of the danger that they pose, in addition to the close cooperation we maintain with the Malian Armed Forces on the issue. The ongoing insecurity is clearly having a negative impact on the humanitarian situation. As of May, approximately 375,000 internally displaced people were displaced, with 55 per cent of them in the central regions and 40 per cent in Gao, Kidal, Ménaka and Timbuktu. About 8.8 million people around the country will need assistance this year. It is worrisome to note in that context that as of May, the humanitarian response plan had received only 11 per cent of the $751 million of funding required. The Mission also continued to implement its human rights mandate.”
2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source
“It should be noted that the Malian Armed Forces conducted several operations during the reporting period in various parts of Mali, which are described in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2023/402). MINUSMA has also been the target of attacks, most recently on 9 June near the town of Ber, about 60 kilometres from Timbuktu. Two soldiers from Burkina Faso were killed and seven others wounded. Since January, five Blue Helmets have died and 31 have been wounded in hostile acts. Malian civilians are also paying a heavy price for this insecurity. The impact of improvised explosive devices, which are a preferred weapon for terrorist groups, is particularly noteworthy.”
2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source
“As emphasized in that text, the difficulties facing the peace process are not insurmountable, and any path other than that of dialogue will lead only to more suffering for the Malian people and greater instability for the region. The resumption of the normal course of the peace process will make it possible to address the security situation more effectively. The situation continues to be affected by the pressure that the Islamic State is still exerting in north-eastern Mali in the Gao and Ménaka regions, and by its continued acts of violence against the civilian population. In the centre of the country, terrorist groups and community self-defence militias remain active. One of the incidents during the reporting period was a complex attack on 22 April on a Malian Armed Forces base in the Sévaré area, which was repulsed.”
2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source
“The text listed the elements on the basis of which the peace process could resume, and asked the signatory movements to facilitate the early voting, which took place on 11 June, by members of the Malian Defence and Security Forces in the areas concerned in the north of the country. It was part of an overall effort to ensure that the constitutional referendum, to be held on 18 June, takes place smoothly throughout Mali. It is regrettable that the call for members of the Malian Defence and Security Forces in the Kidal region to vote was not heeded. I encourage the parties to seek consensus on the issues that divide them, on the basis of the international mediation team’s communiqué of 11 June.”
2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source
“In that context, we — that is, MINUSMA and Algeria, as chef de file — also sought to help the Malian parties overcome their differences surrounding the draft constitution, commissioning international expertise to facilitate a common understanding of the relationship between the draft constitution and the peace agreement. It emerged from that exercise that nothing in the draft constitution stands in the way of the implementation of the agreement, including the legislative and regulatory provisions relating to the institutional framework and territorial reorganization. It is in that context that the international mediation team, after in-depth consultations with the parties, led by Algeria and MINUSMA, published a communiqué on the situation on 11 June.”
2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source
“As a reminder, last December the signatory movements had announced their decision to suspend their participation in the mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of the Agreement, citing what they considered a lack of commitment on the part of the Government. Sustained efforts have since been made by the international mediation team to overcome that issue. The visit on 12 May of the Minister for Reconciliation, Peace and National Cohesion to Kidal was an important step in that regard, which should rebuild confidence and facilitate the resumption of direct dialogue between the parties.”
2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source
“The debates that took place on the draft constitution have shown, if proof were needed, the close links that exist between the transition and the peace processes. In fact, one of the questions that arose in the course of the debates on the draft constitution concerned the extent to which the text takes account of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali emanating from the Algiers process. On 28 March, the Coordination des mouvements de l’Azawad and the Plateforme and some of the Mouvements de l’inclusivité, grouped within the Cadre stratégique permanent pour la paix, la sécurité et le développement, issued a communiqué stating that they did not see themselves in the draft constitution. Other signatories to the Agreement took the opposite position, calling for a yes vote in the referendum.”
2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source
“That support includes a contribution to transport the material required for the referendum and the personnel involved in the process, including vehicles and equipment; training, including for the benefit of members of the Independent Authority for Election Management; the deployment of 182 officers to assist the Authority in the field; the mobilization of technical expertise; a major effort to raise awareness about the draft constitution in support of the National Transition Council; and support to the Constitutional Court in exercising the responsibilities assigned to it. Our involvement is an extension of the support we have extended to the transition since it began, including in the context of the local committee tasked with monitoring the transition, which also includes ECOWAS and the African Union.”
2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source
“The authorities mobilized significant resources for the holding of the referendum, including the Malian air force, which made its contribution by transporting election materials — something that should be welcomed. In accordance with our mandate, MINUSMA and the United Nations country team provide multifaceted support to the process.”
2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source
“The discussions that took place revealed a strong aspiration for reform, in particular with regard to more honest government — something that underpinned many of the recommendations resulting from the national dialogue. As finalized, the constitutional text was the subject of divergent assessments by local stakeholders, whether from the political class, civil society or religious groups. The fact remains that several political parties, including parties that have dominated political life in recent decades, civil society organizations and other actors expressed their support and called for an affirmative vote in the referendum. Those urging a negative vote include political groups and religious organizations. The referendum campaign, which began on 2 June, ends today.”
2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source
“Mali’s authorities have not yet clarified what could be the impact of the delay that was incurred in holding other referendums on the timetable made public in June 2022, including local, regional and legislative elections planned for June, October and November, respectively. But the authorities have reiterated their commitment to complete the transition in March of next year, in accordance with the schedule agreed with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Presidential elections are also slated for February next year. The draft constitution that is the subject of the referendum follows on the national dialogue on the reform process organized in December 2021.”
2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source
“First of all, I would like to thank the President of the Security Council and the other members of this organ for the opportunity given to me to address them once again. This is clearly a special moment for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), as it coincides with discussions on the renewal of the mandate, as it also is for Mali, which continues to face complex security and other challenges. The constitutional referendum will be held the day after tomorrow and will mark the first stage of the process leading to the restoration of constitutional order. The voting was originally scheduled to be held on 19 March.”
2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source
“In the same vein, I remain convinced that the United Nations offers the best framework within which to support the lasting stabilization of Mali and the larger Sahel region, in close partnership with the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States. We have all the tools required, ranging from peacekeeping to peacebuilding and development, and our action is predicated on the principles that bind the entire membership of the Organization, of which Mali is a part. That unique position should continue to be leveraged, given the importance of Mali’s stability for the region and beyond.”
2023-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9302 (2023) · source
“In conclusion, while the challenges in Mali are manifold, advances are also being made in some areas. It is important not to overlook them, even if what has been achieved after a decade of intense international engagement falls below expectations — not least those of the Malian people. Indeed, those advances are proof that, with the sustained engagement of the international community and the commitment of the Malian stakeholders, the situation can be turned around. Clearly, the primary responsibility for stabilizing the country falls to the Malians, and that cannot be otherwise. The predicament in which their country finds itself calls for renewed commitment and efforts to fully harness the goodwill of the international community, including the Council, which has unfailingly renewed MINUSMA’s mandate since 2013.”
2023-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9302 (2023) · source
“The United Nations integrated electoral team, which includes MINUSMA and the United Nations country team in Mali, has continued to extend multifaceted support to the transition process by providing technical assistance to build the capacities of the members of the Autorité indépendante de gestion des élections at the national and local levels, as well as logistical and financial resources to support the administration of elections, including the acquisition of ballot boxes and computer equipment, in addition to the efforts made to encourage inclusivity and consensus at all stages of the electoral process. I reiterate the Secretary-General’s call on all partners to extend the necessary assistance to Mali for the successful conduct of elections.”
2023-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9302 (2023) · source
“While key challenges remain — ranging from the number of polls to be conducted within the remaining period of the transition to the related logistical and financial requirements and the security conditions in parts of the country — no effort should be spared to ensure the return to constitutional rule by the agreed deadline of March 2024.”
2023-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9302 (2023) · source
“Although a new date has yet to be communicated, the Malian authorities have stated that the delay will not compromise the restoration of constitutional order within the agreed timeline — that is, by March 2024. To that end and as detailed in the report of the Secretary-General, several steps have been taken by the Malian authorities to facilitate the completion of the transition process, including the finalization of the draft constitution and the adoption of critical pieces of legislation related to electoral law and territorial reorganization. It is also worth noting the ongoing efforts to fully operationalize the local structures of the Autorité indépendante de gestion des élections and the printing and distribution of biometric identity cards, which will serve as voter cards.”
2023-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9302 (2023) · source
“Now, more than ever before, is the time for the parties to respond to the profound aspiration of the Malian people for peace and to rise above particular interests. The Council’s continued support for the efforts of the international mediation is critical at this juncture. Regarding the transition, the Malian authorities on 10 March announced the postponement of the constitutional referendum, which was initially scheduled to be held on 19 March. The delay was attributed to the need to ensure the full operationalization of the newly established Autorité indépendante de gestion des élections, including the establishment of its local branches. Another element relates to the need to popularize the draft constitution, which was presented by the transition President to Malian stakeholders on 20 March.”
2023-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9302 (2023) · source
“Following a long consultation process with the parties, the international mediation submitted proposals last week to facilitate the resumption of the activities of the monitoring mechanisms and accelerate the implementation of the outstanding provisions of the peace agreement. It is the considered view of the entire international mediation that those proposals should take into account the concerns expressed by the parties in the course of the consultations held in Mali and Algeria since January. It is my earnest hope that the parties will consider those proposals with the required spirit of compromise in order to bring about lasting security and stability and deliver on the long-awaited peace dividends in Mali. Equally, the parties must refrain from any action or statement that could heighten tensions or undermine the ongoing efforts.”
2023-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9302 (2023) · source
“I want to pay tribute to all the members of troop- and police-contributing countries for the sacrifices that they have made during their deployment in Mali and look forward to the Council’s continued support to ensure that MINUSMA has the required uniformed personnel and capabilities. Let me now turn to the recent political developments in Mali. As Council members are aware, MINUSMA and the international mediation, under the leadership of Algeria, have continued to engage the signatory parties to the 2015 Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali to find ways to ensure the resumption of the various monitoring mechanisms of the peace agreement. The paralysis of their activities since December has heightened tensions and fuelled concerns about the viability of the peace process.”
2023-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9302 (2023) · source
“As indicated in the Secretary- General’s report, we continue to encounter challenges in that regard, particularly where the use of our intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets and some of our ground movements are concerned. Improvements in that area will be critical to the Mission’s ability to meet the legitimate expectations of the Malian people and authorities for enhanced effectiveness. We will continue to engage with the Malian authorities on the matter, especially by enhancing coordination. Finally, it is critical that MINUSMA retain full operational capability if it is to make a meaningful contribution to the improvement of the security situation and the protection environment in Mali.”
2023-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9302 (2023) · source
“In that regard, I welcome the steps already taken at the regional level between local former commanders and the MINUSMA force and police, as well as the concerted efforts of the leadership of the MINUSMA force and police and their Malian counterparts in Bamako. Those steps must be enhanced in line with the 2017 memorandum of understanding between Mali and MINUSMA, as emphasized in successive resolutions mandating the Mission and in the recently concluded internal strategic review (S/2023/36). We will continue our consultations with our Malian partners to arrive at a level of coordination that is commensurate with the challenges at hand and can help MINUSMA to better deliver on its mandate in support of the Malian people. Freedom of movement is equally important to the efficacy of our efforts.”
2023-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9302 (2023) · source
“I want to take this opportunity to underscore that during the period under review, we have continued to provide the Malian Defence and Security Forces with important capacity-building support in the areas of human rights and international humanitarian law, as well as carrying out awareness-raising activities for their members. I welcome the collaboration that we have developed in that respect. In view of the security challenges I have mentioned, the need for closer coordination between the Malian Defence and Security Forces and MINUSMA cannot be emphasized enough. It will enable existing resources to be used more judiciously and ensure greater effectiveness on the ground.”
2023-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9302 (2023) · source
“As I have stressed in previous briefings to the Council, it is important that the Malian authorities make every effort to ensure that military operations against terrorist and extremist groups are conducted in full compliance with international human rights law and international humanitarian law and that violations and abuses are transparently and promptly investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice. At the same time, I will continue to engage with the Malian authorities to enhance our cooperation and facilitate the full implementation of the Mission’s human rights mandate, in particular investigations into allegations of human rights violations and abuses, the objective of which is to strengthen justice and accountability, which are essential to achieving lasting stabilization in Mali.”
2023-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9302 (2023) · source