MALI / CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES

The Coordination des Mouvements de l’Azawad (CMA), an alliance of separatist groups seeking autonomy for a region of northern Mali, and the Plateforme, their pro-government opponents, signed a 15-days renewable truce for a cessation of hostilities after weeks of fighting. MINUSMA

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:39
• Production Date: 24 August 2017
• Asset Language: French
• Personal Subject: MAHAMAT SALEH ANNADIF
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS MULTIDIMENSIONAL INTEGRATED STABILIZATION MISSION IN MALI - MINUSMA
• Subject Topical: CEASEFIRES; CONFLICT SITUATION; PEACE AGREEMENTS
• Geographic Subject: MALI
• MAMS Id: 1955210
• Parent Id: 1955210
• Alternate Title: unifeed170824b

Description

STORY: MALI / CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES
TRT: 02:39
SOURCE: MINUSMA
RESTRICTION: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / NATS

DATELINE: 23 AUGUST 2017, BAMAKO, MALI

Shotlist

1. Various shots, delegates outside conference building
2. Various shots, SRSG and delegates entering building
3. Various shots, delegates around conference table
4. Wide shot, conference room
5. Med shot, Sidi Brahim Ould Sidati, signing agreement
6. SOUNDBITE (French) Sidi Brahim Ould Sidati, President, Coordination des Mouvements de l’Azawad (CMA):
“We always have a sense of hope. We hope that after the truce, things will go in a positive direction. We have discussed the fundamental problems and not the problems of principles and we can now move on to a real reconciliation and a document that deals with the problem in its substance and in a definitive way."
7. Med shot, Me Harouna Toureh signing agreement
8. SOUNDBITE (French) Me Harouna Toureh, Spokesperson, Plateforme:
“I sincerely believe that there is no reason for this agreement we just signed to be violated. We sincerely believe that it will work. Why? Because the truce came from the grassroots, from the people, from the fighters themselves. We politicians, have led them to make that choice. The choice was made, we brought it to the knowledge of the Malian government and the international community. It must be respected. We will be meeting in 15 days to make the point, and this will enable us to continue the dialogues that were initiated on the 20th of this month in Anéfis between the CMA and the platform, between the people themselves to enable us to finally finalize peace in the north.”
9. Med shot, Mahamat Saleh Annadif signing agreement
10. SOUNDBITE (French) Mahamat Saleh Annadif, Special Representative of the Secretary General in Mali and Head of MINUSMA:
"These brothers have reached a compromise to stop hostilities. The document entitled "Observance of a truce" demonstrates this goodwill. I know it's easier to make war than to make peace. I believe that if they have agreed to initial this document, they have also agreed to make peace."
11. Med shot, parties shake hands

Storyline

On Wednesday (23 Aug), the Coordination des Mouvements de l’Azawad (CMA), an alliance of separatist groups seeking autonomy for a region of northern Mali, and the Plateforme, their pro-government opponents, signed a 15-days renewable truce for a cessation of hostilities after weeks of fighting.

The rival armed groups agreed on the truce with the aim to preserve peace and rapidly contribute to creating a climate propitious for implementation of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in Mali.

The President of the CMA, Sidi Brahim Ould Sidati, said “we always have a sense of hope. We hope that after the truce, things will go in a positive direction. We have discussed the fundamental problems and not the problems of principles and we can now move on to a real reconciliation and a document that deals with the problem in its substance and in a definitive way."

A spokesperson for the Plateforme, Me Harouna Toureh, said “I sincerely believe that there is no reason for this agreement we just signed to be violated. We sincerely believe that it will work. Why? Because the truce came from the grassroots, from the people, from the fighters themselves. We politicians, have led them to make that choice. The choice was made, we brought it to the knowledge of the Malian government and the international community. It must be respected. We will be meeting in 15 days to make the point, and this will enable us to continue the dialogues that were initiated on the 20th of this month in Anéfis between the CMA and the platform, between the people themselves to enable us to finally finalize peace in the north.”

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Mali and Chief of MINUSMA, said "these brothers have reached a compromise to stop hostilities. The document entitled "Observance of a truce" demonstrates this goodwill. I know it's easier to make war than to make peace. I believe that if they have agreed to initial this document, they have also agreed to make peace."

Annadif played a central role by using his good offices, alongside the Government of Mali, to encourage and support the commitment of the signatories to the full implementation of the Agreement by the Government of Mali, the Plateforme and CMA.