7727th Security Council Meeting: Situation in Mali

The Security Council extends the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali at the 7727th meeting.

• Categories: Meetings & Events / Security Council
• Video Length: 00:42:59
• Production Date: 29 June 2016
• Asset Language: Arabic; Chinese; English; French; Russian; Spanish
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS MULTIDIMENSIONAL INTEGRATED STABILIZATION MISSION IN MALI - MINUSMA
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS; HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE; PEACE; RECONCILIATION; RESTORATION; TERRORISM
• Geographic Subject: MALI
• MAMS Id: 1660162
• Parent Id: 1659109

Description

In a unanimous vote, the 15-member Council adopted resolution 2295 (2016), under which it decided to extend the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) for one year, until 30 June 2017.

Determining that the situation in Mali continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security, the Council also decided to increase the force levels of MINUSMA up to a ceiling of 13,289 military personnel and 1,920 police personnel, and requested Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to take the necessary steps to expedite force and asset generation, as well as deployment.

In the Council’s previous mandate extension for MINUSMA – on 29 June 2015 – it authorized a troop ceiling of 11,240 military personnel.

Through today’s resolution, the Council decided that the strategic priority of MINUSMA is to support the implementation by the Government, the Plateforme and Coordination des Mouvements de l’Azawad armed groups, as well as by other relevant Malian stakeholders, of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, particularly its provisions related to the gradual restoration and extension of State authority. At the same time, the Council requested MINUSMA to move to a more “proactive and robust posture” to carry out its mandate.

Under the terms of the resolution, the Council also decided that MINUSMA should perform tasks related to, among others, supporting the implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation; good offices and reconciliation; protection of civilians and stabilization, including against asymmetric threats; protection, safety and security of UN personnel; promotion and protection of human rights; and humanitarian assistance.

The Council further expressed concern about the volatile security situation in Mali, especially the recent expansion of terrorist and other criminal activities into central and southern Mali, as well as the intensification of intercommunal violence in the centre of Mali. It also noted that the slow progress in the implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation, particularly its defence and security provisions, as well as the delayed restructuring of the security sector, have hampered efforts to restore security in the north of Mali.

Further to the resolution, the Council called on Malian authorities, with the assistance of MINUSMA, to address the issue of the proliferation and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons.

The Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali was signed in June 2015 by the Coordination des Mouvements de l’Azawad, following its signature in May 2015 by the Government and a third party, the Plateforme coalition of armed groups.

The Malian Government has been seeking to restore stability and rebuild following a series of setbacks since early 2012, including a military coup d’état, renewed fighting between Government forces and Tuareg rebels, and the seizure of its northern territory by radical extremists. The country has also been wracked by a series of humanitarian crises.

Hear more about the peace efforts in Mali from the head of MINUSMA, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, who sat down with the UN News Centre for a conversation about MINUSMA’s work.