Step by step towards stability in Mali

The Foreign Affairs Council adopted the following conclusion in Brussels, even on the 18th February 2013: „The European Union supports the efforts of the international community to achieve stability and security in Mali, most notably operation Serval and the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA), and reaffirms its commitment to the fight against the threat of terrorism.”³⁶ It can be confirmed that by summer 2013, according to French President Hollande, about half of the nearly 4,000 soldiers, who have been in Mali since January, will be back in France. French troops, together with soldiers from ECoWAS and Chad, have driven the Islamist groups out of the big cities of northern Mali. Since then the French parliament has already decided to leave 1,000 soldiers in Mali until the end of 2013.³⁷ This work is helped by other things, such step by step Mali will be closer towards stability.

Thus the first step was when the agreement was born between the Malian Government and tuareg rebels that paves the way for inclusive peace talks as well as presidential elections in July and August. “This is a crucial first step,

35 Malian refugees: http://www.dw.de/malians-refugees-in-their-own-country/a-16894443 (Downloaded: on 16^th october 2013.)

36 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/135522.pdf (Downloaded: on 7^th March 2013.)

37 UN to send peacekeeping troops to Mali http://www.dw.de/un-to-send-peacekeeping-troops-to-mali/a-16775375 (Downloaded: on 13^th october 2013.)

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it is now important that the signatories are looking to the future and continue their efforts, hand in hand, for a practical implementation of this agreement to begin immediately in a coordinated and peaceful manner” said Bert Koenders, the Secretary-General’s Special representative for Mali.³⁸ Signed by the Malian Government, the National Movement for Liberations of Azawad (MNLA) and the High Council for the Unity of Azawad, the agreement was reached after nearly two weeks of mediated talks in neighbouring Burkina Faso’s capital ouagadougou.

Such the second step was the summer election itself, when the new president is the former prime minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was born the son of a civil servant in 1945, emerged as the clear winner. It was the first presidential poll in Mali since 2007 (the next stage in the process will be the parliamentary elections in November). I think that the new president will face two major challenges: the negotiation of a settlement for the north, where the MNLA and its allies are lobbying for evident autonomy; and the reformation of the Malian state machine. Some experts, for example Paul Melly³⁹ say the new president believes a possible national unity. He thinks that Keita “needs to revitalize public services, improve transparency and restore public faith in politics. It is a daunting agenda”.⁴⁰ It sure that the presidential elections were considered the „key” step in the transition process and the UN and the European Commission have signed a financing agreement for €14.8 million in support of the electoral process.

And finally such the third step was the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). It was established by Security Council resolution 2100 of 25 April 2013 to support political processes in that country and carry out a number of security-related tasks.

„Welcoming the swift action by the French forces, at the request of the transitional authorities of Mali, to stop the offensive of terrorist, extremist and armed groups towards the south of Mali and commending the efforts to restore the territorial integrity of Mali by the Malian Defence and Security Forces, with the support of French forces and the troops of the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA).”⁴¹

38 ALLAFrICA – MALI: UN Envoy welcomes accord http://allafrica.com/

stories/201306190892.html (Downloaded: on 8^th october 2013.)

39 He is an Associate Fellow in the Africa Programme of Chatham House.

40 Paul Melly’s article: Mali’s new hope for unity: http://allafrica.com/stories/201308301204.

html?page=2 (Downloaded: on 14^th october, 2013.)

41 http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/minusma/documents/mali%20_2100_E_.

pdf (Downloaded: on 15^th october 2013.)

Éva Remek

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to sum up the EUtM has been asked to support the transitional authorities of Mali in the stabilization of the country and implementation of the transitional roadmap, focusing on major population centers and lines of communication, protecting civilians, human rights monitoring, the creation of conditions for the provision of humanitarian assistance and the return of displaced persons, the extension of State authority and the preparation of free, inclusive and peaceful elections.⁴²

So, the training mission is running operation, therefore difficult exercise to give a good summary of its effectiveness. once, when the operation was yet only plan the EU High representative Catherine Ashton said: „My thanks go to the contributing member states and partner countries, whose decisive action has allowed the deployment of the mission. EUtM Mali will support stability in Mali and the Sahel, both now and in the future. respect for human rights and the protection of civilians will be an important part of the training program.”⁴³

I think all of these purposes are still relevant today, too and we hope so.

42 MINUSMA mission: more details: http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/

minusma/ (Downloaded: on 15th october 2013.)

43 http://www.eeas.europa.eu/csdp/documents/pdf/135524.pdf (Downloaded: on 15^th october 2013.)

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tHE PoLICING CHALLENGES oF GLoBALISAtIoN