LATEST NEWS AND STATEMENTS

• Appointment of Albert Gerard Koenders as Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Mali (21.05.13)

  France welcomes the appointment of Albert Gerard Koenders as Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Mali. As the former Dutch minister for development cooperation and head of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire since 2011, Mr. Koenders has the international experience and determination that will enable him to effectively support efforts to resolve the crisis in Mali. He will be able to count on France’s support in his role as head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

• Mali – Outcome of the donors’ conference (15.05.13)

  Thirteen heads of state and 107 delegations yesterday took part in the donors’ conference to reaffirm their support for the Malian people and for the sustainable recovery plan adopted by the Malian authorities. France pledged to pay €280 million bilaterally, in addition to her multilateral contribution. We shall also provide 20% of the European Union’s assistance, to the tune of €520 million.

• Mali – Adoption of Resolution 2100 - Statement by Laurent Fabius (25.04.13)

  Resolution 2100 is an important step. It is part of a comprehensive approach that includes stabilization and the restoration of security, support for the political transition and assistance with reconstruction and development. The deployment of the blue helments on the ground will begin in July 2013. It will underpin efforts to foster dialogue and reconciliation, which are crucial to the smooth running of the elections.

• Mali - Draft resolution (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 16.04.13)

  In answer to the request from the Malian authorities, ECOWAS and the AU, France presented a draft resolution to turn Afisma [African-led International Support Mission to Mali] into a United Nations stabilization mission in Mali (Minusma).

• Visit by Mr. Laurent Fabius to Mali (04-05.04.13)

  During this visit, Mr. Fabius talked with the Malian authorities and the main representatives of the political parties. He also met with the French community and the soldiers involved in Operation Serval and the European operation to train the Malian army (EUTM Mali).

• Mali – Accusations leveled by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights against the Malian army (14.03.13)

  Since the start of the Malian crisis, France has been working within the Security Council and Human Rights Council to ensure that the international community remains mobilized in the face of the human rights situation in Mali. It renews its appeal to strengthen the human rights monitoring mission provided for by UNSCR 2085.

• Mali (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 08.03.13)

  The territorial integrity of Mali is, first of all, in the process of being re-established. There may be continued fighting in some areas of the country, where the terrorists have retreated, but the swift recapturing of the major cities in the north brought real relief to the local populations freed from the subjugation of the extremist groups.

• Development of Mali – Statement by Pascal Canfin, Minister Delegate for Development (12.02.13)

  On the occasion of the informal meeting of European ministers responsible for development in Dublin, European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs and Pascal Canfin, Minister Delegate for Development, announced that a conference on the development of Mali would take place in Brussels in the spring.

• Mali – Adoption of the road map and announcement of the holding of elections (30.01.13)

  France welcomes the unanimous adoption yesterday by Mali’s Parliament of the road map for the transition, which makes provision for the holding of elections and the opening of negotiations with the north. In accordance with the Security Council’s request in its resolution 2085, this progress marks a crucial and positive step in the political process.

• Mali – Road map for the transition (28.01.13)

  The adoption by the Malian government of a road map for the transition, which includes an electoral calendar and provides for the opening of negotiations with the north, marks a decisive and much anticipated step in the political process. This road map should be submitted for consideration by the Malian National Assembly.

• Mali (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 16.01.13)

  The protection of human rights, the protection of civilians and the fight against impunity are priorities of France’s external action. It will do everything possible to stop the human rights violations throughout Mali and to ensure that no reprisals take place.

• Mali – Press conference given by Laurent Fabius (14.01.13)

  I want to stress that this intervention falls strictly within international law. It responds to a formal request by the Malian President and is being conducted in accordance with the UN Charter, in compliance with UNSCRs 2056, 2071 and 2085.

• Mali - Emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 11.01.13)

  The situation is extremely serious. The continuity of the Malian state and the protection of civilians are now at stake. We’re extremely worried about this blatant aggression, which is a real, direct and immediate threat to peace and regional and international security.

• Meeting between Laurent Fabius and his malian counterpart Tieman Coulibaly (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 17.12.12)

  The meeting focused on the latest developments regarding the situation in Mali. Laurent Fabius placed particular emphasis on the need to ensure civilian authority over the army.

• Mali – Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman (11.12.12)

  France is worried about the situation in Bamako. We condemn the circumstances in which Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra was forced to resign. We call on everyone to demonstrate responsibility, in the interests of Mali.

• Mali (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 06.12.12)

  France remains convinced of the need for an approach combining political, security and humanitarian actions in order to achieve a lasting settlement to the crisis facing Mali.

• Mali – Report by Ban Ki-moon (29.11.12)

  This report falls within the framework of the three-pronged approach - comprising a political, humanitarian and military component - promoted by the Security Council in its resolutions 2056 and 2071. France supports this approach according to which the three components of the solution should move forward simultaneously.

• Mali (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 23.11.12)

  This crisis must be handled based on the three components: the political component, the security component and the development component. The political component is very important; it’s critical. Indeed, we often tend to see the Malian crisis only in terms of its security dimension, and notably only in terms of eradicating AQIM terrorism in northern Mal

• Mali (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 13.11.12)

  "We must consider the progress that’s been achieved in a very short space of time. In this respect, France will have played a key role in mobilizing the international community in order to demonstrate that the situation was serious and that there was an urgent need to take action. By this I simply mean that we’re moving forward, making relatively swift progress. And fortunately the situation on the ground warrants this."

• Mali (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 09.11.12)

  "Following on from the unanimous adoption by the Security Council of resolution 2071, the EU foreign ministers decided to start planning a mission to train and advise the Malian forces."

• Mali's readmission into the African Union (25.10.12)

  This readmission reflects the commitment of the African states in support of the process advocated by the transitional Malian authorities and in support of finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

• Mali - International meeting in Bamako (18.10.12)

  The meeting in Bamako is part of a process to mobilize efforts: It follows the unanimous adoption on Friday by the Security Council of resolution 2071 and the adoption on Monday by the EU Foreign Affairs Council of the conclusions on Mali.

• Mali – Adoption of resolution 2071 by the Security Council (15.10.12)

  Resolution 2071, adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, calls on the Malian authorities to engage in political dialogue with the rebel Malian groups and the legitimate representatives of the local population in northern Mali. It imposes the threat of sanctions on the armed groups in northern Mali that do not disassociate themselves with terrorist movements.

• Appointment of Romano Prodi as Special Envoy for the Sahel (10.10.12)

  Mr. Prodi will be responsible for coordinating UN action to address all challenges in the region: humanitarian, development, governance and security challenges. France will support his work.

• Mali - Situation in Sahel (09.10.12)

  There will then be the adoption of a second resolution authorizing the deployment of the force. I want to remind you, since it’s important, that this is an African force, and that therefore the Africans - and primarily the Malians - are responsible for the planning and force generation, in coordination with the African countries. Once we have a clear definition of the requirements, France - and others we hope - will identify exactly what can be done to help this force re-establish Mali’s territorial integrity and eradicate AQIM from northern Mali.

• New draft resolution on Mali at the UN (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 05.10.12)

  France proposed a draft resolution on Mali to its Security Council partners. This resolution, if it is adopted, will firstly reaffirm the need to adopt a political solution to the Malian crisis, a solution that would notably involve the establishment of genuine dialogue between the Malian authorities and the non-terrorist rebel groups in northern Mali.

• Mali – Summary execution of a man charged with murder in northern Mali (03.10.12)

  We reaffirm our attachment to human rights which have been violated by these groups whose main victims are the local population.

• Agreement between the Malian authorities and ECOWAS (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 24.09.12)

  France welcomes the agreement between the Malian authorities and ECOWAS with respect to the deployment of an African stabilization operation in Mali. This is an important step forward in responding to the clarifications requested by the Security Council in its resolution 2056 on Mali.

• Mali (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 06.09.12)

  A high-level conference devoted to the Sahel, chaired by the UN Secretary-General and aimed at strengthening international mobilization, will take place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on September 26. President Hollande and the minister of foreign affairs will participate in this conference.

• Situation in Mali (03.07.12)

  In Timbuktu, the deliberate and systematic destruction of Muslim holy sites, as well as the door to the mosque, constitutes a further affront to the people of Mali. This destruction violates the dignity and deepest beliefs of thousands of practicing Muslims.

• Mali (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 29.05.12)

  There are 3 problems in Mali. There’s a political problem, a security problem and there’s another issue that requires greater emphasis, the food problem.

• Mali - Violence in Bamako (02.05.12)

  France reaffirms its confidence in the ECOWAS mediation and its wholehearted support for Interim President Dioncounda Traoré and Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra.

• Visit by the Minister responsible for Cooperation to Côte d’Ivoire on the occasion of the Summit of the ECOWAS devoted to Mali and Guinea Bissau (26.04.12)

  Mr. Henri de Raincourt will reaffirm France’s support for the process to resolve the crises in both countries