International mediation warns of the “great danger” of the tensions around the 2015 peace agreement in Mali

March 16 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The international mediation team on the 2015 peace agreement in Mali has stressed that this pact “constitutes the most viable framework” to “restore peace and security in a lasting way” in the north of the African country, before warning about the “great dangers” that the collapse of the document would entail.

The mediation has indicated that during the last meeting an “in-depth analysis of the situation” has been carried out, as well as the “initiatives” adopted since December 2022 to try to relaunch the process of application of the clauses of the agreement, including the recent meetings in Bamako, Kidal and Algiers.

“The international mediation has taken note of the concerns expressed by the parties during these consultations. At the same time, it reiterates its commitment to the peace agreement and underlines that it represents the most viable framework for restoring lasting peace and security in northern Mali. and to contribute significantly to the stabilization of the region as a whole,” he said.

In this sense, he has stressed that “during the next few days” he will continue his contacts with the signatory parties and has announced that he will present “concrete proposals” to “relaunch and accelerate the application process (of the agreement), especially in view of the celebration, as soon as possible, of a high-level meeting of the Agreement Monitoring Committee (CSA) aimed at priority and concrete actions to restore confidence between the parties and respond to the needs of the population on the ground”.

Thus, he has shown his “firm conviction” that “the persistence of the current stagnation” could lead to “serious dangers”, for which he has argued that “no effort should be spared” to overcome this situation “as soon as possible.” “International mediation once again asks the signatory parties to refrain from any act or statement that could jeopardize progress,” she explained.

Finally, it has asked the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), which chairs the Technical Security Commission (CTS), to convene a meeting of this body “as soon as possible” to address the situation on the ground. and “facilitate the operationalization of the working group dedicated to reviewing security agreements.”

Tensions have risen in recent months between the military junta established after the coups of August 2020 and May 2021 and the Permanent Strategic Framework (CSP, according to its French acronym) — which includes former Tuareg rebels and members of pro-government militias– amid increased insecurity due to attacks by jihadist groups.

In fact, the groups that make up the CSP announced in February the start of a joint operation against the Islamic State to “demonstrate that the signatory groups are present and that the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (JNIM) — a branch of Al Qaeda in the region– is not an alternative.”

The CSP announced at the end of December the suspension of its participation in the peace agreement and requested an international mediation process in a neutral place in the face of what it described as a lack of will on the part of the junta to comply with what was agreed in Algiers in 2015, which it meant that the Tuareg separatist groups became part of the Armed Forces, a ceasefire was sealed and it was proposed to give more powers to the northern part of Mali.

The Tuareg rebels have risen up in arms up to four times in 50 years to achieve, in some cases, greater autonomy or, in others, directly the independence of the northern part of the country, known as Azawad. The last uprising took place in 2012, although it was quickly hijacked by jihadist groups that advanced towards the center of the African country.

Despite the declaration of independence formulated at the time by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), neither Mali nor the international community recognized the step taken by the Tuareg group, and finally the advance of the jihadists led to French military intervention, which It came to an end last year amid tensions with the military junta, which have led to a rapprochement between Bamako and Russia, including the deployment of mercenaries from the Wagner Group.