Peace Process in Mali: The Groups Involved in Hostilities on the Ground Bear a Heavy Responsibility

30 Apr 2015

Peace Process in Mali: The Groups Involved in Hostilities on the Ground Bear a Heavy Responsibility

 

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Mali, Mr. Mongi Hamdi, calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities in several locations in the north of Mali.

 

The SRSG is extremely concerned about the serious violations of the ceasefire taking place in Mali, at a crucial moment in the peace process.

 

On 27 April, elements of the Groupe d’auto-défense touareg imghad et alliés (GATIA) and the Mouvement arabe de l’Azawad – Plateforme (MAA-Plateforme) entered the town of Ménaka, which, under the ceasefire arrangements, is under the control of the Mouvement national de libération de l'Azawad (MNLA). Fighting continued in the vicinity of Ménaka on 28 April.

 

On 29 April, elements of the Coordination des Mouvements de l’Azawad (CMA) attacked National Guard barracks in Goundam, killing two National Guard members and a child.

 

Other incidents or confrontations are currently taking place in Léré, Bintagoungou and in the area around Ménaka. MINUSMA is closely monitoring the situation.

 

“I call on all the actors involved to be reasonable and responsible; the stakes are too high. It is imperative that the parties concerned honour their commitment to peace as well as the Ceasefire Agreement of 23 May 2014 and its modalities of implementation agreed on 13 June 2014, the Declaration of cessation of hostilities signed in Algiers on 24 July 2014 and the declaration signed in Algiers on 19 February 2015,” the SRSG said.

 

“Through the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the entire international community strongly condemns this spiral of violence. MINUSMA is impartial: all parties, regardless of who they are, must honour their commitments and return to their original positions. Let me be very clear on this point: We want the groups concerned to honour their commitments and to return to their positions, as foreseen by the ceasefire agreement and as they have pledged to do,” Mr. Hamdi continued.

 

MINUSMA is intensifying and multiplying its contacts at the highest level to reduce tensions on the ground. A meeting of the Commission technique mixte de sécurité (CTMS) will be held shortly to take measures to ensure compliance with the commitments made.

 

“We hope that reason will prevail. The Agreement which is to be signed is a historic opportunity for peace in Mali, for the benefit of all Malians. All of our efforts are directed towards this. The groups involved in the hostilities on the ground bear a heavy responsibility,” the Special Representative concluded.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Mali, Mr. Mongi Hamdi, calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities in several locations in the north of Mali.

 

The SRSG is extremely concerned about the serious violations of the ceasefire taking place in Mali, at a crucial moment in the peace process.

 

On 27 April, elements of the Groupe d’auto-défense touareg imghad et alliés (GATIA) and the Mouvement arabe de l’Azawad – Plateforme (MAA-Plateforme) entered the town of Ménaka, which, under the ceasefire arrangements, is under the control of the Mouvement national de libération de l'Azawad (MNLA). Fighting continued in the vicinity of Ménaka on 28 April.

 

On 29 April, elements of the Coordination des Mouvements de l’Azawad (CMA) attacked National Guard barracks in Goundam, killing two National Guard members and a child.

 

Other incidents or confrontations are currently taking place in Léré, Bintagoungou and in the area around Ménaka. MINUSMA is closely monitoring the situation.

 

“I call on all the actors involved to be reasonable and responsible; the stakes are too high. It is imperative that the parties concerned honour their commitment to peace as well as the Ceasefire Agreement of 23 May 2014 and its modalities of implementation agreed on 13 June 2014, the Declaration of cessation of hostilities signed in Algiers on 24 July 2014 and the declaration signed in Algiers on 19 February 2015,” the SRSG said.

 

“Through the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the entire international community strongly condemns this spiral of violence. MINUSMA is impartial: all parties, regardless of who they are, must honour their commitments and return to their original positions. Let me be very clear on this point: We want the groups concerned to honour their commitments and to return to their positions, as foreseen by the ceasefire agreement and as they have pledged to do,” Mr. Hamdi continued.

 

MINUSMA is intensifying and multiplying its contacts at the highest level to reduce tensions on the ground. A meeting of the Commission technique mixte de sécurité (CTMS) will be held shortly to take measures to ensure compliance with the commitments made.

 

“We hope that reason will prevail. The Agreement which is to be signed is a historic opportunity for peace in Mali, for the benefit of all Malians. All of our efforts are directed towards this. The groups involved in the hostilities on the ground bear a heavy responsibility,” the Special Representative concluded.