Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations

Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations

Statement by First Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Polyanskiy at the Ministerial Meeting of the Security Council on the situation in Mali

Mr. President,

We welcome Prime Minister of Mali Mr. Soumeylou Maïga at this meeting. We would like to thank Secretary-General of the UN Antonio Guterres for the information he shared. Above all, may we express our deepest condolences to the government and the people of Mali upon the terrifying tragedy that happened in village Ogossagou on March 23, where an ethnical clash killed over 160 peaceful people. We wish soonest recovery to all who were wounded. We hope that those responsible for this will be found and held accountable. This sad event that happened when the Security Council was on mission in Mali, demonstrated once again, how immense and significant the threats are that exist for the country and the region; it highlighted their vulnerability to destabilizing forces, such as terrorism, organized crime and extremist ideology.

On the whole, we share the assessments articulated by the Secretary-General today, and in the two March reports on the situation in Mali. We welcome the efforts of Bamaco, Mali political forces and groups that became signees of the ‘Platform’ and ‘Coordination’ – on the implementation of the peace agreement. We hope that they will build up on the positive momentum and implement the agreement’s provisions on re-establishment of Mali security forces, carrying out an administrative and territorial reform and preparation for a constitutional referendum.

An important step to sustain the domestic national dialogue would be holding parliamentary elections that are scheduled for June. These are the issues that the international community should prioritize when providing assistance to this country.

There are clear positive developments in the Mali settlement, however, we cannot fail to notice some trends that are not – to our regret – quite encouraging. Vast areas of the country are out of governmental control, therefore it is no surprise that these territories become a breeding ground for radical activities.

We note that over recent months the number of terrorist attacks has grown against both military and civilians. Human rights violations are a common thing. Ethnical and inter-communal conflicts not only smolder in the very center of Mali, but they flare up increasingly often. We believe it is not just about centuries-long confrontation of nomads and settled population. There are militants who seek to win the trust of locals by giving them protection and basic services. They also skillfully manage to benefit from the existing disputes. In order to overcome such challenges it is imperative to reinstall the governmental presence. We also cannot fail to notice the achievements of MINUSMA in stabilization and reconciliation of the opposing sides in Mali.

We have profound concerns about the exacerbating humanitarian situation. The amount of people in dire need of help is growing. We call upon external donors to finance the humanitarian urge as soon as possible. We remind that the young people in Mali are in a desperate situation, and they have no other option but to join terrorist, extremist or criminal formations. In this regard, it is vital to boost economic activities in the Northern and Central areas and bring social services back there. The situation in Mali is a significant aspect of all-African security. However, it is hardly possible to ensure settlement in this country without stabilizing the situation in the region. Libyan factor is still playing a negative role. The connection between terrorists in Mali and in the region becomes more pronounced. Therefore, we fully support steps taken by the “G5 Sahel” to launch joint forces to counter terrorism and organized crime. We hope that their role in ensuring regional security will be growing.

Thank you.