SC/10892
Security Council
6905th Meeting (PM)
In Briefing, Political Affairs Head Says, as UN Looks for Solutions, Must Remember Factors that Led to Collapse of Democracy 10 Months Ago ‘Run Deep’
With French and Malian forces carrying out joint military operations to regain control of areas seized by armed extremists over the past 10 months, a senior United Nations official today said that the crisis in Mali could be at a potential turning point, and as the Security Council now prepared to consider long-term solutions, it must examine the deep-seated challenges that had led to the shocking eruption of violence in the once vaunted West African democracy.
“Solutions will not likely come quickly or simply. Dangers line the path ahead,” said Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, as he warned the Council during a briefing on the situation in Mali that the factors behind the country’s sudden collapse — and the swift takeover of its northern half by extremists — ran deep. Though the military struggle for Mali was now engaged, he said that those operations must take place in a framework of a political process that ensured sustainable peace, stability and national reconciliation.
“Vigorous military actions must be matched by an equally strong focus on the political challenges in Mali,” he continued, underscoring that whether the international community would be successful in helping Mali restore its democracy and recapture its territory would depend on the breadth of its vision and the comprehensiveness of its response. Such actions must be carried out with full attention to human rights concerns, and should be reinforced by strategies to address the many transnational threats that combined to breed extremism and weaken governance not just in Mali, but across the wider Sahel.
He went on to report that deployment of AFISMA and Headquarters staff had begun on 18 January, and as of 20 January, some 855 troops were dispatched from Benin, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo, as well as a full Nigerian battalion, to the border with Mali. Key stakeholders all generally agreed that the envisaged AFISMA strength of 3,300 personnel needed to be increased if it was to engage effectively in offensive operations and enhance force protection. “AFISMA is currently facing critical gaps, including communications capacity, air mobility and medical capabilities,” he said, adding that it was expected that the deployed contingents would have only very limited capacities for self-sustainment. Malian defence and security forces also had capacity gaps that needed to be addressed immediately.
Mr. Feltman also drew the Council’s attention to the Secretary-General’s recent letter detailing several funding options for United Nations logistical support for the Mission, as well as several concerns regarding capacity, human rights, and the safety and security of United Nations personnel and facilities. He also reported that the start-up team for the establishment of the United Nations multi-disciplinary presence had arrived in Bamako and renewed contacts with stakeholders to continue discussion on implementation of all aspects of Security Council resolution 2085 (2012), including political and security processes.
“The United Nations will continue to impress upon Malian leaders the need to agree quickly on a road map to restore effectively constitutional order,” and he urged others to reinforce that message, for reliance on an exclusively military approach would not allow for the building of a lasting solution for Mali. Indeed, he said, the full spectrum of Mali’s problems — severe political, security, humanitarian and human rights challenges — must be seen in the context of the broader Sahel region.
The meeting also heard Ambassadors from among the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other countries in the region applaud the decision by the French Government nearly two weeks ago to deploy troops to help stop “the troubling push” southward by extremists. They also made strong appeals for broader international assistance, which would allow the Malian Government to implement a road map towards stability and reconciliation, with the representative of Mali assuring that Council that, while the armed groups continued to defy the international community, Malian authorities, at the highest levels, had constantly sought a political solution and deployed “unflagging efforts” to achieve peace.
Unfortunately, given the jihadist attitudes of the combatants, armed aggression continued along with the further seizure of territory, under a scorched earth policy. That, he continued, had inflicted great suffering on the Malian people and caused the President to declare an emergency situation throughout the nation. He had requested and obtained, under international law, France’s military support, to halt the advance of terrorists, not only to Mali, but to other countries in the region.
Speaking on behalf of ECOWAS, the representative of Côte d’Ivoire noted that that recent events in Algeria had thrown into stark relief the ongoing “savage” threats posed by terrorists, as well as the need for international solidarity to deal with those threats. He went on to update the Council on recent activities carried out by ECOWAS, including the appointments to AFISMA’s military command, as well as the establishment of a joint mechanism to monitor implementation of resolution 2085 (2012).
He said that the ECOWAS presidency, along with the African Union, had called for the holding in Addis Ababa on 29 January a Donors’ Conference that would focus on that Mission’s immediate needs. With AFISMA facing ongoing funding and equipment gaps, there was concern that the Mission would not be able to deploy in a sustained manner much beyond Bamako and a few other areas. He reiterated ECOWAS’ appeal to the Secretary-General to remain personally involved in activities regarding the financing and equipping of AFISMA. Further, he urged the Secretary-General to consider chairing the upcoming Donors’ Conference, which would heighten international awareness and add urgency to the matter.
Also speaking were the representatives of Senegal, Chad, Burkina Faso, Niger, Benin and Nigeria.
The permanent Observer of the African Union also addressed the Council, as did the head of the delegation of the European Union.
The meeting began at 3:17 p.m. and adjourned at 5:15 p.m.