In 2012 Mali underwent one of the most serious crises in its history since independence. The crisis, involving the occupation of part of Mali by terrorist groups, and largescale abuses against the civilian population, plus a military coup followed by the opening of a period of transition towards a full return to constitutional order, has had major humanitarian and economic consequences. Against this backdrop, Mali showed its resilience and its determination to examine the deeper causes of the crisis in order to find sustainable solutions. Mali also had the crucial support of the international community, in particular France, Chad and the African nations and organisations involved in the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA), which helped restore the unity and stability of the country. The United Nations will shortly deploy a stabilisation mission which will build on the work done in particular by the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union. The return to stability opens up a political space for Mali within which a national dialogue will help bring about reconciliation; new foundations will be laid for initiating a comprehensive reform of public governance, establishing a new decentralisation policy and creating the conditions for sustainable economic and social development. The EU made a prompt and substantial contribution to this process of political transition, restoration of stability, and relaunching of development, and is determined to continue its efforts to aid Mali.
The crisis Mali is currently undergoing is not economic and is not linked solely to external factors: it has revealed the fragility of the country's institutions and its governance problems, in particular corruption, which has resulted in a loss of credibility of the State institutions in the eyes of its citizens. It has shown the need for a public debate within Mali on the main political issues and the economic and social development challenges facing the country.
This crisis has not yet been fully resolved, in terms of a full return to constitutional order by free, inclusive and transparent elections, the process of dialogue and national reconciliation, or the restoration of the State’s authority throughout the country. Against this background, the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the President of France, François Hollande, and the President of the Republic of Mali, Dioncounda Traoré, have taken the joint initiative of holding a high-level Donor Conference for Development in Mali, so that Mali can present its Sustainable Recovery Plan (PRED) for 2013-2014 and request the support of the international community in financing it. The conference is based on the principle that there is no development without security but also no security without development.
The conference participants welcomed the adoption of the Transition Roadmap on 29 January 2013, all aspects of which they support. Its implementation constitutes a precondition for resuming normal international aid to Mali. They also welcomed UN Security Council Resolution 2100 of 25 April 2013, which opens up encouraging prospects for the stabilisation of Mali and for its development.
The conference 'Together for a New Mali' considers that Mali does not need to be rebuilt because its administration withstood the consequences of the political and security crisis and the country was able to adjust its macroeconomic policy to the crisis situation. But the State institutions and governance practices need to be thoroughly overhauled in order to ensure sustainable development.
Mali bears the responsibility for this reform, but the support of the international community is needed and be ready to put into action.
