Mali minister warns terrorists and their foreign sponsors, although ‘weakened’, still pose a threat
Speaking at the annual debate of the United Nations General Assembly, Abdoulaye Maiga said that since 2012, Mali has experienced a multifaceted crisis that has resulted in the loss of more than half of its territory and the loss of countless civilians. network.
This is largely due to violence carried out by “an opportunistic and incestuous association” of terrorist groups and other armed militants. NATO’s “silly” military intervention in Libya also contributed to the worsening of the situation across the Sahel.
Indeed, terrorist activities instigated by sponsors within and outside the region have seriously affected Mali’s security and stability due to increased violence, “all forms of violence,” the Deputy Prime Minister explained. trafficking, money laundering and communal conflicts”.
Witnessing the failure of international forces on its territory since 2013 to resolve these problems, the Malian authorities decided to “take their fate into their own hands.” Since 2021, Mali has launched a broad campaign to re-equip and reorganize Mali’s security and defense forces.
Following a subsequent national assessment, the authorities and people of Mali jointly concluded that the country, its people and its defense and security forces had been “plundered and polluted; beaten and humiliated; high, dry and stabbed in the back,” by partisans who incited violence and plundered the country’s raw materials for personal gain. That is the case in much of Africa.
Considering this “cruel reality of international relations,” especially as it concerns Africa, Mali’s president earlier this year launched a “national program of values education” aimed at The aim is for the Malian people to recommit to their roots, “without this program it would be difficult to implement”. let’s imagine a bright future for our country in its legitimate effort to restore its sovereignty,” Mr. Maiga explained.
Regarding the ongoing political transition in Mali, he reiterated that the Malian people have chosen to implement political reforms before holding elections to establish good governance, among other goals. In addition, to further promote national unity, “which is the basis for all development efforts”, the president, on December 31, 2023, organized a three-phase dialogue between the countries Mali for peace and reconciliation. The aim is to enable the country to seek Mali solutions to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts.
“We call on all Malians to support this trend of reconciliation, an important step towards a return to constitutional order,” Mr. Maiga said. The force succeeded in its efforts to recover all areas in the hands of terrorist groups, especially in Kidal.
Although terrorist groups have been “severely weakened” as Mali defense forces are deployed across the country, he said, those “criminals” continue “desperate efforts to weaken territorial integrity of Mali”. ”.
Mr. Maiga also recalled that, earlier this year, member states of the Federation of Sahel States sent a joint letter to Security Council condemns the Ukrainian government’s support for international terrorism; denouncing the invasion of Mali; and requested the Council to take appropriate measures against the Government of Ukraine.
He also criticized France for its aggression against Mali and its participation in promoting terrorism in the Sahel through armed, economic and media terrorism.
Finally, the Deputy Foreign Minister expressed surprise at the “fierce hostility” from some officials of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) “who are acting at the behest of imperialists and new colonial entity”.
