Mali security situation remains dangerous with return of Jihadists

Despite the political progress achieved in Mali, the return of "armed groups, terrorists and Jihadists" represents a "serious threat" to the stability and security not only in the country, but in the Sahel region in general, a Malian Minister of National Reconciliation and Development of Northern Regions Cheick Oumar Diarrah said Wednesday. Addressing the Security Council on the latest developments in his country, Diarrah said: "The fight against terrorism and the organized crime in Mali is not over and the security situation remains fragile in the whole region of the Sahel." The UN Special Representative for Mali Albert Gerard Koenders told the Council that the recent worrying security incidents in Mali constitute an "important wakeup call" after a period of calm that facilitated the holding of presidential elections last summer and the cantonment of armed groups. "The Malian authorities are confronted with numerous challenges that need to be addressed urgently to enable Malian men, women and children to live in security and to benefit from peace dividends," he said, adding that he remained concerned about the fragile security situation, notably in the north of the country. Mali has witnessed a military coup in early 2012, renewed fighting between Government forces and Tuareg rebels, and the seizure of its northern territory by radical Islamists. Boubacar Keita won the presidential elections last summer, Oumar Tatam Ly was appointed Prime Minister last month and a new 34-member Government was announced. The first round of legislative elections will be held on 24 November, with a second round planned for 15 December. On the humanitarian front, Koenders noted that the 477 million humanitarian appeal, launched in Brussels last May, is only 37 per cent funded, at 177 million. He praised the work of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), which took over from the African Union (AU) last July, and expressed regret that it is faced with a number of severe challenges, such as helicopters to facilitate rapid deployment and access to remote areas to ensure the protection of civilians.