In a report to the Security Council, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urges the ruling junta in Mali to“accelerate” the pace to return power to elected civilians in early 2024, as she has pledged to do.
In this report consulted by AFP on Tuesday April 11 on the eve of a council meeting, Mr. Guterres is also concerned about the persistence of violence, its impact on the populations and the “the dead end” in which there is an important peace agreement between the Malian state and armed groups in the north.
Mali has been plagued by jihadist spread and violence of all kinds since the outbreak of insurgencies in the north in 2012. The violence has spread to the center of the country, as well as to neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger. It is moving south. A UN stabilization mission, Minusma, has been deployed in Mali since 2013, with around 13,800 troops and police to date.
The security turmoil goes hand in hand with a deep humanitarian and political crisis. Mali has been the scene of two putsches since 2020 and is ruled by a junta. This has pledged, under international pressure, to give way by March 2024. In his quarterly report, Mr. Guterres notes the ” progress “ accomplished along this path, such as the drafting of a Constitution and the creation of an electoral management authority. But, he adds, “delays have been incurred in the execution of certain essential activities” :
“With less than a year to go before the planned end of the transition, it is incumbent on the Malian authorities to do everything in their power to expedite this process so that constitutional order is restored within the agreed timeframe. »
A “climate of deep mistrust”
The junta has just announced the postponement sine the of a referendum on the Constitution. Mr. Guterres expresses concern over “the dead end” or the “persistent paralysis” where is the application of the 2015 so-called Algiers agreement. The implementation of this agreement between the armed groups of the north and the State is considered essential for the stabilization of the country. However, the signatories, in particular the Tuareg groups, are at loggerheads with the junta. Mr. Guterres talks about “climate of deep distrust” :
“It is essential that the parties urgently overcome the current stalemate given the prevailing security conditions, particularly in north-eastern Mali, where terrorist groups relentlessly attack civilians, and all humanitarian consequences linked to this situation. »
In a memorandum published on social networks, the Malian government assures that “the diligent implementation of the transition timetable remains a priority for the Malian authorities”. He also ensures to stay “committed and available for diligent implementation” of the Algiers agreement.
He questions the basis of Mr. Guterres’ accusations that Malian forces committed abuses against civilians during operations in which he took part. “foreign security personnel”. The Malian army enlists the help of hundreds of men described according to sources as Russian army instructors or mercenaries from Wagner, a Russian private security group with decried actions.
The government claims a “improvement of the security situation” et “the neutralization of hundreds of terrorists” over the past three months. Mr. Guterres speaks of security conditions still “precarious”. He notes the restrictions imposed by the Malian authorities on the air or land movements of the Minusma – a criticism also rejected by the government.