The process to restore civilian rule in the wake of the August 2020 military coup in the West African country will conclude in March 2024, when power will be transferred to elected authorities.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m pleased to underline that some significant progress has already been made,\u201d he said, referring to the passing of the electoral law, the establishment of an election management authority and the creation of commission to draw up a new Constitution.<\/p>\n
Fight against terrorism
\nTurning to insecurity, Mr. Ma\u00efga said Mali is the only country in the world that is simultaneously confronting terrorism, intercommunal conflicts, cross-border organized crime, and violent acts by isolated individuals.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlongside our return to constitutional order, Mali is continuing to fight tirelessly against this insecurity and particularly against extremist groups who are responsible for all kinds of abuse against our peaceful people,\u201d he reported.<\/p>\n
Mr. Ma\u00efga said terrorist groups \u201chave been seriously weakened\u201d, though added \u201cthese criminal groups can still cause harm to a certain extent in their desperate attempts to deal a blow to our territorial integrity and to terrorize our people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Military action, stabilization strategy
\nThe Government has stepped up efforts to recruit, train, equip and bolster the national security forces.<\/p>\n
A \u201cglobal integrated strategy\u201d that includes provision of social services has been devised, while another stabilization strategy for the volatile central region was also recently approved.<\/p>\n
He also provided an update on the peace deal to end unrest that had erupted in the north a decade ago, signed by the Government and two coalitions of armed groups in 2015.<\/p>\n
Following recent meetings, there was a \u201cstrong signal\u201d that the parties want to commit to a dynamic new process to achieve its implementation, he reported.<\/p>\n
\u2018Paradigm shift\u2019 for UN Mission
\nMr. Ma\u00efga addressed the UN Mission in Mali, known by the French acronym MINUSMA, whose mandate includes ensuring security, protecting civilians, supporting political dialogue and reconciliation, and assisting in the reestablishment of State authority.<\/p>\n
He said the Mission\u2019s objectives have not been achieved after nearly 10 years in the country, and despite numerous Security Council resolutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is why the Government of Mali reiterates its demand, expressed on numerous occasions, for a paradigm shift and an adaptation of MINUSMA to the environment in which it is deployed, and a better interlinking between this mission and the Malian authorities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The interim Prime Minister also criticized France for withdrawing its anti-terrorism force Barkhane from Mali last year, stating \u201cmy country was stabbed in the back\u201d.<\/p>\n
He also accused the \u201cFrench junta\u201d of violating Malian airspace \u201cby sending aircraft such as drones, military helicopters and fighter planes over 50 times, bringing information, weapons and ammunition to terrorist groups.\u201d<\/p>\n
Detention of Ivoirian soldiers
\nAt the outset of his speech, Mr. Ma\u00efga blasted international response to the arrest of 49 soldiers from neighbouring C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire who entered Mali in July.<\/p>\n
The troops were part of logistical support operations at MINUSMA, according to the Ivoirian authorities.<\/p>\n
Mali said the soldiers had arrived there without permission and are considered mercenaries. Three have since been released.<\/p>\n
Mr. Maiga expressed deep disagreement over statements by UN Secretary-General Ant\u00f4nio Guterres reported in the media.<\/p>\n
\u201cClearly the judicial nature of the infringements around this affair do not fall under the competences of the Secretary-General of the United Nations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also spoke out against statements made by the head of the West African bloc ECOWAS, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau, and the President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe ask those who are refuting our version to ask if they would accept the military troops having hidden their identities by saying on their passports that they were painters or builders, would arrive with weapons in their airport without the country of destination having been informed in advance, with the idea of destabilizing the country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Authorities in Mali are moving along the path to political transition and institutional reform while combating terrorism and other insecurity, Acting Prime Minister Abdoulaye Ma\u00efga said in his speech to the UN General Assembly on Saturday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12963,"featured_media":18392,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,15],"tags":[7,26,25],"class_list":{"0":"post-18395","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"category-politics","9":"tag-apie-project","10":"tag-news","11":"tag-politics"},"yoast_head":"\n