The Federal Government of Nigeria has pledged more financial aid to war-torn Mali to help rebuild the country after months of conflict.
Vice President Arc Mohammed Namadi Sambo, made this pledge in Brussels at the International Donors Conference on the Development of Mali organized by the European Union and the Mali’s transitional government.
The Vice president, who represented Mr. President at the event, stated that Nigeria has remained committed to the restoration of peace and order to the war-torn country and has continued to provide material and financial support to the achievement of that noble objective.
Arc Sambo who acknowledged that reconstruction of post-conflict Mali requires strong international support, however called for need for identifying the root causes of the crisis and to take into cognizance the diversity of the Malian society. He pledged Nigeria’s commitment to the restoration of peace in country. “We are committed to supporting a comprehensive integration of Northern Mali through inclusive consultations and dialogue that would create opportunity for the socio-economic development for the benefit of all Malians”; said the Vice President.
The Vice President specially thanked President Francois Hollande of France for his intervention in Mali and called for his continued support for the maintenance of the territorial integrity and development of the country. He also thanked the Mr. Dicouda Traore the head of the transitional government of Mali for sharing the country’s vision as reflected in the strategic plan for 2013-2014, and lauded the collaborative efforts of the ECOWAS, the European Union and the United Nations towards restoration of peace in the nation.
Since the commencement of the Malian crises in 2012, Nigeria has so far committed over USD$45Million in humanitarian assistance, rehabilitation, administration and maintenance of military operations for the restoration of peace in the country.
The conference is aimed at offering financial and logistic support to Mali’s government in order to rebuild the post war country under a comprehensive development strategic plan. It includes rebuilding government institutions and the military, repairing damaged infrastructure, organising presidential elections, holding dialogue with rebel groups in the north, and stimulating the economy.
At the conference, Nigeria has pledged the sum of two million US dollars to be devoted to supporting agricultural development and the elections that were due to hold later this year in the country.
