缅北禁地

Jean-Pierre Lacroix听updated ambassadors on听developments in the West African country, where a 缅北禁地operation, known by the French acronym听, supports political processes and restoration of state authority against a backdrop听of insecurity, intercommunal violence and increasing displacement.听

听was established following听fighting between Government forces and Tuareg rebels听in January 2012, leading to the occupation of northern Mali by radical Islamists.听听听

The听authorities and two听separate听armed group coalitions听signed the peace deal three years later.听

鈥淭he rapid and thorough implementation of the peace听agreement remains the only viable path听for the stabilization of Mali.听听It provides the framework for the required political and institutional reforms to restore and decentralize State authority, to build a Malian state that reflects the diversity and interests of all its citizens鈥�,听said听Mr. Lacroix.听

鈥淭he peace agreement also provides for mechanisms to address the grievances of those Malians who feel excluded from the country鈥檚 political life and economic development and who see little hope for their future.鈥澨�

National dialogue听concludes听

Despite听slow听starts听and听disagreements, both听between听and among听the听sides,听the听UN听peacekeeping chief reported that听progress has been achieved听in Mali,听such as听the听holding of an听inclusive national dialogue听which concluded听in听December.听

Foreign听Minister听Ti茅bil茅听Dram茅听characterized听it as a milestone听for his country.听听

鈥淭he national dialogue was an important point in the life of the nation: a point at which a true national consensus was forged with lively solidarity,鈥� he said, speaking via videoconference.听听

鈥淔or his part, the President of Mali has taken the commitment of doing everything in his power to ensure that the听resolutions and recommendations of听the听national dialogue, pursuant听to current law, be implemented.鈥澨�听

Regional plans听

Another step forward has been the disarming听and听subsequent听integration of former combatants into the national defence and security forces.听

Mr. Lacroix said redeploying reconstituted army units to the north remains an 鈥渦rgent priority鈥�, with a听first battalion听expected in the听region by the end of the month:听an important step towards restoring state authority nation-wide.听

At the same time, the 缅北禁地has increased its presence and activity in Mopti, located听in central Mali, which has contributed to de-escalating intercommunal violence and massacres.听

However,听this has meant diverting assets from the north, leading to what听Mr. Lacroix听described as 鈥渄angerous gaps鈥� in some areas.听 To address the challenge,听MINUSMA听will make some adaptations听within听its authorized troop strength.听

鈥淭he plan provides for the establishment of a Mobile Task Force, which will enhance the听Mission鈥檚 ability to implement its mandate and protect civilians. It will make MINUSMA听more agile, flexible and mobile with tailored units and enhanced capabilities, most听importantly additional air mobility鈥�,听he explained, before calling on ambassadors for their support.听

Support for the Sahel听听

Mr. Lacroix听began听his briefing by听addressing听the听鈥渁larming鈥澨齞eteriorating security situation not only in Mali but听in听the wider Sahel.听听听

Just last week alone,听89听soldiers from Niger听were killed听and 18 peacekeepers injured听in two separate attacks.听There has also been a rise in the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) against 缅北禁地convoys.听

鈥淭errorism continues to feed into inter-communal violence in the centre of Mali,鈥� he reported.听 鈥淭here are now more displaced persons suffering from hunger in the Mopti region than there were in the past.鈥澨�

The United Nations听supports听the听G5 Sahel听regional body, which brings together听Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, all of which are experiencing rising extremist violence.听

French ambassador听Nicolas de Rivi猫re听told the Council that听following a recent summit held in his country,听the G5 and its international partners听have听established a听coalition听for the Sahel.听

鈥淭he aim is to step up our support听for countries of the G5 Sahel,听but听also听beyond that to incentivize them to engage in reform: of course,听security reform,听but also听governance and human rights reform,鈥� he said.听鈥淲ith these conditions being met, we can eradicate terrorism.鈥澨�