Unresolved ethnic tensions threaten Mali peace, say Christian charities
For immediate release:
In a new report, Britain's leading faith-based development agencies have warned the international community that their support is urgently required to achieve lasting peace in Mali.
This comes as Justine Greening, the Secretary of State for International Development, prepares to attend a high level Mali Donor Conference in Brussels this week, co-chaired by the European Union and France, to discuss how to help rebuild the shattered country.
The report, ‘Mali: Division and Reconciliation', by CAFOD and Christian Aid, warns: “There are tensions both between local community members from different ethnic groups and with displaced people whose presence has altered the ethnic and economic composition of many communities.”
After fighting broke out in January 2012 between the Mali government and Tuareg rebels, the north of the country was occupied by Jihadist forces, leading the Malian government to request military assistance from France. More than 475,000 people fled the conflict in the north, resulting in 300,000 being left homeless inside the country and more than 175,000 refugees in neighbouring Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania. CAFOD’s and Christian Aid’s Malian Church partners caution that many communities now feel deep mistrust for each other.
Theodore Togo, Director of CAFOD’s partner Caritas Mali and contributor to the report, says: “Promoting reconciliation between the communities requires the restoration of confidence and peace at the local level. This is a complex task because the sense of injustice is currently very strong in some communities, as well as at the national level. National reconciliation is the essential element for the construction of a new Mali.”
The report reaches the following conclusions:
· Successful reconciliation in Mali will require long term and sustained support by donors who must recognise that it is a nationally led and owned process.
· The international community must focus not just on government-led processes, but must provide support to all levels of society, especially the work of civil society at local level, which is critical to the reconciliation process and to laying the foundations for fair and inclusive elections.
· Donors and governments must support initiatives which actively address conflict as part of the wider work of building the resilience of vulnerable communities in Mali.
The report also raises concerns that national elections, due to take place in Mali in July, will come too soon for the country to put in place the necessary electoral systems. It points out that large numbers of displaced people will find it difficult to register ahead of voting, making it harder to ensure proper Tuareg and Arab representation. An additional fear is that the push to hold early elections will put pressure on displaced communities to return to their homes while many areas still remain insecure.
Anne Street, CAFOD’s Humanitarian Policy Advisor and the author of the report, says: “Building a prosperous future for Mali means ensuring that all members of civil society play a role in shaping that future. The EU-French Mali Donor Conference in Brussels provides a golden opportunity to show support for the National Commission for Dialogue and Reconciliation to move towards achieving a durable peace.”
Notes to Editors:
CAFOD is the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, which works with communities across Africa, Asia and Latin America to tackle poverty and fight for justice. We work with all communities based on their needs, regardless of religion, gender or background.
Read the full report: ‘Mali: Division and Reconciliation: ‘Why donors should focus on civil society’
For further information please contact Nana Anto-Awuakye on 07799-477 541 or email nanto-awuakye@cafod.org.uk