Mali

Mr. President of the General Assembly, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Secretary-General of the United Nations,

It is a great honor for me to convey to you the cordial greetings of His Excellency Colonel Assimi GOITA, President of the Transition, Head of State, on behalf of the People of Mali.

I am also speaking on behalf of His Excellency Brigadier General Abdourahamane TIANI, President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, Head of State of Niger, who is unable to address this General Assembly.

Before anything else, I would like to renew the compassion of the Authorities and People of Mali to the Authorities and Peoples of Morocco, Libya, Turkey and Syria, following the natural disasters that have brought mourning to these brotherly countries.

Mr. President,

Peace and security remain the priority for the populations of Mali and the Sahel, after more than a decade of violence with particularly devastating consequences. Yet this region was known as a haven of peace, social cohesion and coexistence among its various communities.

For its part, Mali has decided to change paradigm and take its destiny into its own hands. Thus, on the security front, Mali has prioritized strengthening the capacities of the Malian Defense and Security Forces, so as to enable them to fulfill their sovereign missions of defending national territory and protecting people and property.

Today, the Malian people have regained confidence in their defense apparatus. Today, the populations of Mali are encouraged by the results achieved in the fight against terrorist armed groups and their foreign state sponsors.

Mali once again strongly denounces the interference of certain powers that continue to facilitate the criminal activities of terrorist armed groups in Mali and the Sahel.

It should be recalled that on August 15, 2022, the Government of Mali alerted the Security Council to acts of hostility and aggression by France. Instead of ceasing such actions, this country, a permanent member of the Security Council, continues, with total impunity, its maneuvers to destabilize Mali and the Sahel, as evidenced by the recent release of terrorists in the tri-border area of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, outside any judicial framework and without the knowledge of the States concerned, in order to carry out further terrorist actions against our civilian populations and our Defense and Security Forces.

France's hostile acts are also illustrated by its untimely and illegal interventions to delay or even prevent the processing of our funding requests at several sub-regional, regional and international financial institutions.

In the same vein, it is regrettable that this same country attempts, and sometimes unfortunately succeeds, in instrumentalizing African sub-regional organizations, pitting brotherly countries against one another, solely for its own geopolitical interests, in a neocolonial and paternalistic approach.

Mr. President,

Mali is aware that military action alone is not sufficient to durably address the complex challenges related to terrorism and certain governance issues in the country. This is why the Government has adopted an integrated strategy, which includes political and institutional reforms, the development dimension, and consideration of the specific concerns of youth and women, including employment and their representation in decision-making bodies at the local and national levels.

To create the conditions enabling the deep aspirations of the Malian people for change to be realized, the Government has committed to implementing the political and institutional reforms necessary for the refoundation of the State. Part of this dynamic was the successful holding, on June 18, 2023, of the referendum on Mali's new Constitution, adopted with over 96% approval. Its promulgation by the Head of State on July 22, 2023, marks the advent of the Fourth Republic of Mali. In reaching this milestone, the Government of Mali gives proof of its genuine will to return to a peaceful and secure constitutional order, including the holding, in the coming months, of general elections.

Mr. President,

After ten years of presence in my country, the international response to Mali's security challenges has not measured up to the threats. The expectations of the Malian population, repeatedly expressed by the authorities, have thus been ignored. The United Nations Mission in Mali, MINUSMA, has not been able to help Mali restore its authority over the entirety of its territory, despite the substantial resources invested in it over the past ten years. During its presence on national territory, the security situation in Mali only deteriorated. The insecurity, which was confined to the northern regions of Mali at the time of its deployment in 2013, spread to the Central and Southern regions. This spread of insecurity is, fortunately, now receding thanks to the undeniable successes achieved on the ground by the Malian Armed Forces, despite the challenges inherent to this type of operation.

Despite the difficulties encountered by MINUSMA, due to the Mission's mismatch with the security context—namely, maintaining peace in an environment where there is no peace to maintain—the Government of Mali had come to terms with its passive presence. However, it became unacceptable for the Government of Mali to allow MINUSMA to continue becoming part of the problem, by aggravating tensions between our communities, through the instrumentalization of the human rights issue for political purposes, thereby serving the external agendas of countries hostile to Mali.

It was thus that, after a thorough assessment, the Government of Mali requested, in June 2023, the immediate withdrawal of MINUSMA, and we are pleased that the Security Council granted this request. The Government is working with MINUSMA toward its orderly, coordinated and secure withdrawal from Mali, within the deadline of December 31, 2023, in accordance with the relevant provisions of Security Council resolution 2690 (2023) of June 30, 2023. The Government of the Republic of Mali does not intend to extend this deadline.

The Government reassures the Malian population and the international community that all measures are being taken to ensure the continuity of State services after MINUSMA's departure. The first phase of the withdrawal process has been completed and the second phase is already underway.

Certainly, MINUSMA was not able to fulfill its mandate, but the Malian Government and people remain grateful for the efforts and sacrifices made over the past ten years in Mali. I pay tribute here to the memory of all the victims, civilian and military, Malian and foreign, who fell on the field of honor in Mali.

That said, the withdrawal of MINUSMA does not mean the end of cooperation between the United Nations and the Republic of Mali. Quite the contrary, my country values its membership in the UN and the Government remains committed to the principles and noble ideals of the Charter. Likewise, Mali renews its commitment to cooperate with all States of the world that wish to do so and that respect the fundamental principles of its foreign policy.

In a spirit of national ownership, the Government is striving to continue the efficient and intelligent implementation of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, resulting from the Algiers process, with our brothers from the signatory movements who wish to do so. We are pleased with the progress already made since the signing of the Agreement in 2015, including the adoption of the new Constitution, which incorporates several provisions of the Agreement, and the Government has decided to henceforth prioritize inter-Malian dialogue for the continuation of the peace process with the signatory groups.

The Government is aware of the challenges along the path to peace, such as the macabre series of terrorist attacks carried out indiscriminately against civilian populations and members of the Malian Defense and Security Forces. The savage and barbaric attack against the boat "Tombouctou" and the assaults on the camps in the towns of Bamba, Gao and Bourem, between September 7 and 12, illustrate the cruelty of these terrorist and organized criminal groups that cowardly attack vulnerable targets such as women and children. On behalf of the Head of State, the Government and the People of Mali, I wish to thank all the friendly nations and international organizations that expressed their compassion and solidarity with Mali in the wake of these tragic events. However, even in the face of such tragic events, and at a time when the theme of our session calls us to greater solidarity, it is regrettable that the Security Council was unable to reach even a minimal consensus to, at the very least, denounce these barbaric acts.

Despite these difficulties, or rather, because of these difficulties, the Government of the Republic of Mali is more determined than ever to exercise its sovereignty and establish its authority, its full authority, over the entirety of national territory. In response to obscurantist attacks, the offensive by the Defense and Security Forces will continue, and the response will be immediate and firm. This was the case recently in Bourem, where our valiant soldiers repelled an attack by these criminal and obscurantist gangs, inflicting substantial losses on them.

Contributing to the dynamic of strengthening the State's presence and authority is the State's commitment to occupy all positions vacated, and to be vacated, by MINUSMA. Contrary to certain allegations, the occupation of these positions, entirely in accordance with United Nations texts, in no way constitutes an act of belligerence by the Malian State toward the signatory movements.

On the contrary, we continue to extend our hand to our brothers in the signatory movements for lasting peace and harmonious development for the benefit of our populations. To this end, we call on the armed groups to distance themselves from, and cease, the collusion observed with terrorist armed groups during the recent attacks, in accordance with the Peace Agreement as well as with the various resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.

In the current geopolitical context, Mali does not wish to become a theater of confrontation or competition for the geopolitical interests of foreign powers, and we remain willing to cooperate with all partners who respect our sovereignty, our choice of partnerships, and the interests of the Malian people.

Mr. President,

Regarding the regional and international situation, Mali remains very attentive to ongoing developments in Africa and the rest of the world.

Concerning global governance, the Government of the Republic of Mali reiterates its commitment to respect for the United Nations Charter, particularly respect for the sovereign equality of States, and, consequently, its rejection of the activities of certain powers seeking to perpetuate neocolonial domination and subjugate other peoples, other countries and other nations.

Mali is attentive to institutional developments and deplores the fact that the assessment of recent regime changes in certain African countries is based on the proximity of the new leaders to certain powers, or on geopolitical interests, ignoring the aspirations of the populations of the countries concerned.

In this regard, we denounce and reject the double standards applied by certain powers, regional and international organizations, including here at the United Nations. This inconsistency and instrumentalization only serve to discredit our organizations in the eyes of the populations and public opinion, thereby eroding their trust in these institutions, which are now perceived as having been diverted from their original purpose. Certain organizations are being used, outside any legal or community framework, as weapons against the countries and populations that freely subscribed to them, sometimes at the cost of a transfer of sovereignty. These organizations are thus becoming instruments for perpetuating and imposing a neocolonial and hegemonic order.

Specifically, we are following with great interest the evolution of the situation in Niger since July 26, 2023. The People and Government of Mali reiterate their solidarity and full support for the Government and People of brotherly, neighboring and friendly Niger. We denounce, as a matter of principle, the imposition of unilateral sanctions and coercive measures against a State, whether in Africa or elsewhere. We denounce all the more the sanctions, when they are unjust, inhumane and illegal, such as those that ECOWAS and WAEMU have imposed on Niger. The humanitarian consequences of these sanctions are so dramatic that the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator had to send a letter to the President of the ECOWAS Commission calling on the need to ease these measures.

Furthermore, Mali remains strongly opposed to any military intervention by ECOWAS, which would have disastrous consequences for Niger and the entire region. Any military intervention in Niger—I would say any aggression or invasion of this country—constitutes a direct threat to the peace and security of Mali and the region and will have serious, serious consequences. We will not stand idly by. We remain committed to the exclusive use of dialogue, diplomacy and negotiation, with a view to a peaceful resolution of the situation in Niger.

It is essential to avoid repeating the grave mistakes of a relatively recent past. You will recall that in 2011, despite the firm opposition and warnings of African leaders, the United Nations Security Council decided to authorize a NATO military intervention in Libya, the consequences of which have durably destabilized this brotherly country and the entire region. This NATO war in Libya is at the origin of the expansion of terrorism and violent extremism in the Sahel region, with its share of innocent victims and destruction.

This is why we will never tire of recalling this international responsibility for the human tragedy being experienced by Libya and the Sahel countries. Also, on behalf of all the victims from 2011 to the present day—tens of thousands of dead and millions of displaced persons and refugees—we demand justice; we demand reparation. But above all, we ask that the international community assume its responsibilities and draw all the lessons from this reckless military intervention by great powers in a third country. It is crucial to avoid repeating in Niger the serious mistakes made in Libya, which are precisely at the root of the deterioration of the situation throughout the Sahel region, including in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. This is essential to restoring trust among the Nations of the world.

Mr. President,

The multiple challenges to international peace and security call for a reform of the United Nations' dedicated architecture. Mali reiterates its support for the legitimate demand of the African Continent for the reform of the Security Council, so as to make it more representative of the realities of our time.

In the same vein, Mali will continue to advocate for the reform of global economic, financial and political governance, in order to create optimal and fair conditions for the participation of our countries in multilateral institutions. In this dynamic, Mali reaffirms the central role that Africa must play within international organizations and institutions.

In this regard, Mali welcomes the opening of the BRICS Alliance to new member States, including African States. The BRICS Alliance and its mechanisms, including the bank, offer a flexible alternative suited to the development needs of the countries of the Global South. Along the same lines, the recent expansion of the G20 to include the African Union is an encouraging signal, but not sufficient. It is important that Africa's participation in other international forums be intensified, in the name of justice and equity.

Climate change constitutes a real threat to present and future generations. We must have the courage to move beyond the prevailing dogmatism and narrow interest games surrounding this issue. In this regard, the time has come to effectively implement the decisions of our Summits and our COPs. It is more than necessary that the countries responsible for global warming assume their full responsibilities, including that of supporting the efforts of the countries of the South, for environmentally sound development.

Mr. President,

I would like to recall that the United Nations was created in 1945, essentially to save future generations from the scourge of war. This noble objective, prescribed by the United Nations Charter, is far from being achieved. Worse still, the current geopolitical tensions and the multiple conflicts around the world constitute real grounds for concern for multilateralism, peaceful coexistence and harmonious development.

Let us pause the rhetoric of intimidation, threat and war. As the theme of this 78th session invites us to do, let us work together to "rebuild trust and reignite global solidarity."

Let us dare to undertake reforms that make it possible to build a world where everyone counts; a world where no one is left behind. Together, let us work to establish effective, equitable and inclusive international mechanisms capable of resolving crises rather than fueling or perpetuating them.

Direct victims of the persistent interference of certain countries in their internal affairs, the populations of Mali and several Sahelian States continue, unfortunately, to endure the tragic consequences of multidimensional crises imposed and sustained by those who, paradoxically, come to lecture them on democracy and respect for human rights.

In implementing the Head of State's vision for the emergence of a new Mali, freed from all external neocolonial domination, the Government of the Republic of Mali is honored to count on sincere partners, on countries that value relationships between equals, based on mutual respect. In this regard, I wish to give special mention to the Russian Federation for its active solidarity and reliable commitment, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Mali remains committed to strengthening African regional and sub-regional mechanisms, which would truly and primarily defend the interests of African populations.

True to its Pan-Africanist vocation, reaffirmed in its successive constitutions, Mali reiterates its adherence to all relevant collective security mechanisms, particularly those in which African leadership is affirmed and instrumentalization is combated. This is the full meaning of the creation, on September 16, 2023, of the Alliance of Sahel States by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, through the signing of the Liptako-Gourma Charter. This organization aims to establish a collective defense and mutual assistance architecture, with the goal of combating all forms of aggression, all forms of terrorism, and organized crime within the common space of the Alliance.

This new organization also aims to unite the efforts of the three countries in the socio-economic and monetary spheres and to strengthen regional integration on new foundations—this time, an integration of peoples founded on solidarity, respect for the dignity and identity of our peoples and our countries; the affirmation of our sovereignty over our lands and our resources, but also our sovereignty over our organizations; the financing of our activities through our own resources; as well as the rejection of external interference, hegemonic policies, neocolonial domination and subjugation.

Beyond security-oriented mechanisms, Mali fully subscribes to African initiatives that work to promote and strengthen bonds of fraternity and solidarity, such as the African Political Alliance, initiated by the sister Republic of Togo, which aspires to an independent Africa, politically strong, unashamed, non-aligned, and capable of participating as an equal actor in global governance.

Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

In closing, I would like to observe that the multiple challenges to peace, security and development require a refounded, adapted and inclusive multilateral framework. We can no longer, and must no longer, continue doing the same thing with the same inadequate mechanisms while hoping for different results.

For its part, Mali remains committed to a multilateralism in which every nation counts, a multilateralism of solidarity that offers ambitious solutions to the complex challenges of our time, particularly in the Sahel; an open multilateralism that addresses the deep aspirations of our populations for change, dignity, respect, the sovereign equality of States, equity, justice, development, security and peace.

Thank you for your kind attention.