UN chief urges continued international support for Mali amid growing terrorist threat

António Guterres was addressing the Security Council which on Thursday held a briefing on the West African country, where a UN mission, known by the French acronym, MINUSMA – the most dangerous place to serve as a ‘blue helmet’ - has been supporting the government since 2013.

“Building a politically stable and more secure Mali requires our collective and sustained commitment and MINUSMA’s continued support. We owe this to the people of Mali and the Sahel region, who deserve a better future”, he told ministers and ambassadors attending the meeting.

Terrorism fuelling inter-communal violence

As in the wider Sahel, terrorist groups and criminal organizations are expanding their operations in Mali.

Recent attacks in Mopti, in the restive central region, have left at least 100 people dead.

“I remain very concerned about the situation in central Mali, where terrorist activity continues to fuel violence among communities, taking a heavy toll on the local population”, the UN chief said.

Though encouraged by government efforts to address the crisis, Mr. Guterres urged the Malian authorities to take greater action to combat impunity, which is essential to ending the violence.

“I would also like to highlight the need to bring to justice the perpetrators of crimes against peacekeepers. 128 peacekeepers have been killed as a result of malicious acts, and not a single perpetrator has been held accountable”, he stated.

“I am appalled by allegations of summary killings and executions of at least 38 civilians by the Malian armed forces in two villages in Mopti region last weekend, in one case with the support of traditional hunters. I welcome the Government’s announcement to investigate these serious violations and I call on the authorities to do everything possible to hold the perpetrators of these heinous crimes accountable.”

Dialogue and deployments

The Secretary-General also reported on progress in implementing the Peace Agreement signed in 2015 by the authorities and two coalitions of armed groups.

The deal came in the wake of conflict in 2012, which led to the occupation of northern Mali by radical Islamists, including the ancient desert city of Timbuktu.

In the past year alone, Mali has held an inclusive national dialogue, while more than 1,000 former combatants with the armed movements have been integrated into the national forces.

Reconstituted units are now in the north, marking the first formal presence of the army there since 2012, thus paving the way for greater state administration and other developments.

“The new Parliament, currently in session, is expected to play a key role in enacting institutional reforms envisaged in the Agreement, including through the holding of a Constitutional referendum”, the Secretary-General added.

“These mostly positive developments are promising. I encourage the signatory parties to strengthen mutual trust and to work together to keep up the momentum in the peace process, which remains the only pathway to a politically stable and more secure Mali.”

UN support continues

Mr. Guterres underscored the various ways MINUSMA - officially the UN Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali - has been supporting the country.

MINUSMA assisted with the holding of legislative elections in March, which saw more women elected to office, though he said there is still a long way to go.

Relatedly, Mr. Guterres called for the release of opposition leader Soumaïla Cissé, who was abducted during the campaigning.

MINUSMA has also joined national efforts to counter the COVID-19 pandemic, which threatens to increase the number of people requiring humanitarian aid to five million in the coming months.

The pandemic has also added to the UN mission’s already challenging operating environment. So far, 100 personnel have contracted the disease, and two peacekeepers have died.

The escalating violence in the Sahel has created one of the fastest growing displacement crises in the world, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, which will launch an appeal on Friday to address the growing needs.

Recent attacks have include the deadly assault in Mali, mentioned by the Secretary-General in his briefing, and another in western Niger in late May.

“Attacks by armed groups and ensuing counter-security operations have led to more people fleeing their homes for security and put even more pressure on stretched host communities, already facing immense hardship from dealing with those displaced, often relatives from previous violence,” the agency said on Thursday.

UNHCR has provided shelter assistance to over 25,000 families and aims to conclude distribution of relief items to 16,500 families by the end of the month.

However, humanitarian activities are seriously hampered by escalating insecurity, the impact of COVID-19 and a lack of adequate resources.