Everyone’s support needed to contribute to lasting solution to Mali crisis

The countries of the Sahelo-Saharan region have reaffirmed that the support of the countries of the Region and the rest of the international community is needed to contribute to the search of a lasting solution to the recurrent crises in Mali.

The call was made by participants of the 8th Meeting of the Heads of Intelligence and Security Services (HISS) of the countries, who also agreed that the needed support will go a long way to contribute to further isolation of the terrorist and criminal groups operating in the Region.

This was contained in the operational conclusion report of the 8th meeting of the Heads of Intelligence and Security Services of the countries of the Sahelo-Saharan Region copied to ghanabusinessnews.com.

The meeting which was recently held in Grand Bassam, Côte d’Ivoire underscored the continued threats to regional peace and security, particularly violent attacks and illegal activities of terrorist and criminal armed groups operating in the region, which have contributed to the increase of socio-economic challenges that need to be addressed, according to the report.

The report also noted that participants reiterated their deep concern about some developments that took place in the already fragile security situation in the Sahelo-Saharan region.

Participants noted the persistence and multiplication of terrorist attacks in the northern part of Mali, notably targeting the civilians, the Malian Defence and Security Forces barracks and MINUSMA convoys, as well as members of the French Barkhane Operation, the report said.

It also mentioned that the participants equally observed with serious concern the continuous expansions of the terrorist attacks towards the central parts of Mali, particularly near the Niger Bend.

They welcomed the institutional and legislative measures taken by the Government of Mali for the establishment of local Interim Administrations, as well as the arrangements for cantonment, initiated by the Parties, with the support of MINUSMA.

Participants commended the sacrifices made by the Defense and Security Forces of Mali, MINUSMA and the Barkhane Operation, targets of repeated attacks by the terrorist groups operating in Mali. They welcomed the adoption by the UN Security Council of Resolution 2295 (2016) and expressed deep concern at the spread of terrorist attacks towards those parts of the region, which had been hitherto spared. In this regard, they strongly condemned the attacks perpetrated in Ouagadougou, in January 2016, and in Grand Bassam, in March 2016.

They welcomed the vigorous and rapid reaction of the countries of the region, as well as the preventive measures taken following the violent attacks, especially those relating to the reinforcement of security cooperation.  

The meeting ended with participants agreeing on six action plans.

Pamela Ofori-Boateng