ECOWAS calls for government of national unity in Mali
- Details
- Category: Latest
- Published on Monday, 09 July 2012 15:23
- Written by Elombah.com
The ECOWAS Contact Group on the Mali crisis has called for a government of national unity to implement the road map for a peaceful end to the crisis in the country through the restoration of the territorial integrity of Mali and the organization of fair, transparent and credible presidential election at the end of ongoing 12-month
transitional period.
In a Communiqué at the end of their 2nd Meeting in Ouagadougou,
Burkina Faso on Saturday, 7th July 2012, the Heads of State of the
Seven-nation Contact Group urged stakeholders in Mali, including
political leaders and Civil Society to hold consultations and make
proposals to the interim President Dioncounda Traore for the formation
of the government of national unity before the end of July 2012.
The interim President, Prime Minister and members of the current
Transitional Government shall not be candidates in the presidential
elections to be organized by the national unity government, the
Contact Group said.
It also demanded that full investigation be conducted on the 21st May
2012 physical attack on President Traore and the perpetrators brought
to book.
The Contact Group leaders appealed to all stakeholders in the Malian
crisis for the total cessation of hostilities before the holy month of
Ramadan.
Armed groups occupying the North of the country should also
immediately halt the destruction of historical monuments in Timbuktu,
they said, and requested the International Community to set up a
special fund for the restoration and preservation of the monuments
which are classified as world heritage sites.
The Group also demanded the immediate release of all persons
arbitrarily detained, and called on the International Criminal Court
to initiate the necessary enquiries in order to identify the
perpetrators of these war crimes and to initiate the necessary legal
proceedings against them.
The Contact Group leaders equally appealed to the Malian Government to
take all necessary measures, with the support of ECOWAS, to restore
the central authority and administration throughout the country, and
refer to the National Assembly the need to extend the mandate of the
Supreme Council for Local Authorities and the economic, social and
cultural Council.
They reaffirmed that the “territorial integrity and sovereignty of
Mali, and the secularity of the State and religious freedom are
non-negotiable,” and called on the socio-political stakeholders in
Mali, including the armed groups illegally occupying the North, to
embrace dialogue and work together to preserve social cohesion and
national unity.
They also urged the armed groups to distance themselves from terrorist
groups and all forms of extremism, in order to promote inclusive
dialogue and a quick end to the crisis.
The Contact Group leaders encouraged the Government of Mali to put in
place a national body responsible for peace talks with the armed
groups in northern Mali under the aegis of the ECOWAS Mediator, with a
view to seeking a negotiated political solution to the crisis though
dialogue.
While expressing concern “over the tragic humanitarian situation in
the North of Mali,” they launched an urgent appeal to the
International Community to provide emergency aid to the people of
northern Mali and displaced persons or refugees in other countries.
The Group also called for an increase in humanitarian aid and support
for the creation of a humanitarian fund, while the armed groups
occupying northern Mali should facilitate the aid operations being
carried out by the International Community.
The Contact Group urged ECOWAS to provide support in building the
capacities of the Malian Army, to allow it carry out its core duty of
defending the national territory and protecting institutions,
individuals and property.
It called on the Malian Government to establish vibrant and sustained
cooperation with ECOWAS, African Union and United Nations in order to
manage effectively, the crisis in northern Mali.
In this regard, it urged the interim President to file without delay,
a formal request to ECOWAS and the United Nations, for the deployment
of ECOWAS troops to support the Malian Army in its core duty of
defending the territorial integrity of Mali.
The Contact Group leaders reminded the Malian Government, armed groups
occupying the North of the country and all other socio-political
stakeholders, of their obligation to respect and ensure respect for
human rights and fundamental freedoms, in conformity with the
country’s Constitution and international instruments to which Mali is
signatory.
The Group called for urgent necessary steps to be taken to guarantee
access of citizens to basic social services, particularly education,
health, water and food.
In addition, the Contact Group leaders encouraged the Malian
Government to take all appropriate measures to strengthen cooperation
with all technical and financial partners of Mali, in order to
preserve the economic viability of the country and meet the basic
needs of the population.
They reiterated the decision of the 41st Ordinary Summit of ECOWAS
leaders to deploy troops of the ECOWAS Standby Force in Mali as soon
as possible to assist in the stabilisation of institutions and the
restoration of the country’s territorial integrity, and called on the
Malian Government, armed groups in the North, as well as other
stakeholders, to ensure the full implementation of the relevant
provisions of Resolution 2056 (2012) adopted by the UN Security
Council on 5th July 2012.
The Heads of State warned that those who may seek to oppose the smooth
running of the transition and ECOWAS decisions, will be liable to
individual and collective sanctions.
+++++++++++++
ECOWAS REAFFIRMS RESOLVE TO RETURN MALI TO CONSTITUTIONAL RULE
The Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government
and President of Cote d’Ivoire, His Excellency Alassane Dramane
Ouattara has reaffirmed the region’s uncompromising resolve to return
Mali to constitutional rule.
Speaking in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on Saturday, 7th July 2012, at
the opening of the one-day 2ndMeeting of the regional Contact Group on
the Mali crisis, he said the objective is to deepen discussions with
the Malian Government and other stakeholders, including
representatives of the National Parliament, Political Parties and the
civil society, to strengthen the Malian nation for the restoration of
its democracy and territorial integrity.
In addition to the military coup on 22nd March 2012, which toppled the
government of elected President Ahmadou Toumani Toure, Mali is also
facing a separatist rebellion in the North.
“We cannot accept the division of Mali nor can we accept terrorist
destructions, drug trafficking or extremism,” the ECOWAS Chairman told
the gathering, adding that mechanisms should put in place for the
creation of a Government of national unity.
Expressing the same sentiments in his address of welcome, the regional
Mediator on the Mali crisis, Burkina Faso’s President, His Excellency
Blaise Compaore, described the meeting as a further manifestation of
the determination by ECOWAS and partners to find a lasting solution to
the Malian crisis by involving all stakeholders.
With the fragile situation of governmental institutions in Bamako and
continued deterioration in the North of Mali, he said the Contact
Group’s meeting came within the framework of ongoing regional
initiative towards resolving the Mali crisis.
President Compaore therefore called on Malians to do their part,
reminding them that regional negotiations and other initiatives have
the backing of the international community, including the UN Security
Council which on Thursday 5th July 2012, adopted a strong Resolution
on Mali in New York.
The meeting attended by leaders of Benin Republic, Cote d’Ivoire,
Niger, Nigeria, Togo and host Burkina Faso later went into a
closed-door session. The Seven-nation Contact Group on the Mali
crisis, comprises, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire,
Liberia, Niger, Nigeria and Togo.
Also at the 2nd meeting were Mrs. Rokia Guikine Traore, Minister of
African Integration and Malians Abroad, who represented the Malian
Transitional Government, President of the West African Economic and
Monetary Union (UEMOA), Mr. Cheick Adjibou Soumare, Special
Representative of the UN Secretary General Mr. Said Djinnit, a
representative of the European Union and ECOWAS Commission officials.
The meeting followed the 41st Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Heads of
State and Government held on 29th June, 2012, in Yamoussoukro, Cote
d’Ivoire, which was dominated by the crises in Malian and
Guinea-Bissau.
