The Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), acting on behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, conducted a visit to the Republic of Mali from 29 to 31 October 2018. This was in follow-up to the Committee’s initial visit of October 2006, and to its related visit of February 2009, and focused on progress made by Mali in implementing the Committee’s 2006 and 2009 visit recommendations, as well as on measures introduced to implement Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001), 1624 (2005), 2178 (2014), 2396 (2017), and other relevant Council resolutions.
In recent years, the security situation in Mali has deteriorated with terrorist groups affiliated with Al-Qaida or ISIL (Da’esh) coexisting together with criminal groups and armed groups over a large part of its territory.
CTED’s Executive Director, Assistant Secretary-General Michèle Coninsx, stated that Mali is a priority country for the Counter-Terrorism Committee and that the Committee will give due attention to the findings of the visit. She further noted recent measures taken by Mali to address the threats to terrorism, namely the establishment of a Specialized Judiciary Unit and Specialized Investigation Unit for Combating Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime; the adoption of legislation on the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism, and the recent adoption of the National policy for the prevention and fight against violent extremism and terrorism.
The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Diallo, reiterated his country’s commitment to reject and condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. He further referred to the newly adopted National policy as the frame of reference in the fight against violent extremism and terrorism in Mali. He noted that this policy aims to ensure better coordination in the fight against terrorism. However, the implementation of this ambitious programme requires significant resources. In this regard, while acknowledging and welcoming the support of the international community in Mali, he called for further assistance and support in the implementation of the National Policy’s plan of action.
The visiting delegation was led by CTED’s Executive Director Ms. Coninsx, and included CTED experts, as well as representatives of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the World Customs Organization (WCO), the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), and the Analytical and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee.