UN Security Council Meeting on the situation in Mali – Explanation of Vote
Ambassador Harold Agyeman
Ghana’s Representative to the United Nations
New York, New York
June 30, 2023
Madam President,
The A3 is of the view that the resolution just adopted marks a significant milestone in the international community’s engagement with the people of Mali as they strive towards the restoration of peace, security and stability in their country. We believe that since the establishment of MINUSMA on 25th April 2013, the Mission has played an important role in facilitating the political processes in the country, carrying out security-related tasks and stabilizing Mali. We underline that MINUSMA has played a crucial role in securing Mali in the face of the immense security challenges that the country is facing.
Today, however, and in line with the wishes of the Malian transitional authorities, this Council has terminated the Mission and set out processes for the withdrawal of the United Nations troops from Mali. We take this opportunity to express our deep appreciation to all troop and police contributing countries for their roles in helping to maintain the integrity of Mali. We pay a special tribute to all peacekeepers and other personnel who have lost their lives for the cause of peace.
The withdrawal of MINUSMA should however not be the end of the international community’s engagement with Mali. The people of Mali would continue to need the solidarity and support of the international community as they enhance their security capabilities to fill gaps that would be created with the departure of the international presence as well as in sustaining the implementation of the Algiers Peace Agreement and the transitional roadmap, especially the realization of the March 2024 electoral timetable. While Mali confronts immense security challenges, the solution is not wholly military but rather a mixture of responses that also includes sustained efforts at national reconciliation, improvements in inclusive governance and state
administration, and better integration of Mali’s interests with its neighbouring region.
Madam President,
We believe the penholder diligently worked to ensure that the resolution we have adopted contains the elements necessary to work out practical arrangements for a safe and orderly withdrawal in cooperation with Malians transitional authorities. We cannot risk creating vulnerabilities during the withdrawal period that would embolden terrorists and violent extremist groups to further destabilize Mali. Neither can we jeopardise the safety and security of the United Nations personnel as well as the protection of civilians including humanitarian actors. We, therefore, urge a coordinated implementation of the withdrawal of the Mission within the six-month period and in a way that does not erode the gains made on the security front.
The cooperation of the authorities of Mali is important to ensure a seamless transfer of tasks, effective 1 st July, in accordance with Operative Paragraph 2 of the resolution; mindful of the obligations to respect the SoFA as called for by Operative Paragraph 4. Timely approvals of flights and customs clearances would be particularly important in this regard to ensure that set timelines are met.
In concluding our explanation as to why the A3 support this resolution, I must highlight that the withdrawal of MINUSMA from Mali changes the way the region and the international community must implement the strategies for stabilizing the Sahel. Already, the G-5 Sahel Joint Force, which benefits from MINUSMA’s presence in the region would be affected by the withdrawal of the mission’s support. But so would other assurances that have been built into regional security initiatives to deter, detect and disrupt terrorist and violent extremist activities in the Sahel. We would therefore need to engage constructively with other processes that are in the pipeline to stabilize the region.
Finally, we urge good faith commitment, close cooperation, mutual respect and open and frank discussions between the United Nations and Mali to ensure an effective management of the withdrawal phase of MINUSMA and in a manner that would limit any unintended adverse consequence for the stability of Mali and its immediate region.
I thank you