A 2015 peace deal for Mali has led to a 鈥減rogressive return of trust between parties鈥�, President Ibrahim Boubacar Ke茂ta told the听UN General Assembly听on Wednesday evening.
The听Malian authorities听and听two coalitions of armed groups听听听in听the north signed the听Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali听in efforts to end conflict which had erupted three years prior.听
President听Ke茂ta听said it has led to听major听achievements, including a听lack of clashes between the听security forces and signatory movements.听听
鈥淏ut also, there is a progressive return of trust between parties in Mali,鈥� he continued.听 鈥淎dditionally, more than 500 former fighters have been re-integrated, and around 2000 ex-fighters have been registered in an operational coordination mechanism as part of the听听(demobilization, disarmament and reintegration) process.鈥澨�
President听Ke茂ta听said the DDR process will lead to the re-establishment of State authority across the country.听
The peace agreement also sets out political and institutional reforms.听听听
Following two unsuccessful attempts, Mali is听now听preparing to hold a national dialogue which should听bring about听national reconciliation and the strengthening of democracy, according to the President.听听
The country also adopted laws this year to create a development听zone听in the听north, with a听$72 million fund to implement the strategy.听听听
However, Mali is facing what the President described as听鈥渢he worrying situation鈥� in the听centre听of the country.听听听
鈥淗aving managed to destabilize regions in the north of Mali, terrorists and other criminal groups expanded their reach鈥o the regions in the听centre听of the country.听They exploited disputes between different armed groups which so far had been managed in a non-violent manner,鈥� he said.听
鈥淭he issue for the motivation of these terrorist groups听has听little to do with religion and even less to do with development. The issue for them is to ensure that they have the space to ensure their criminal activities can prosper, trafficking of weapons, human beings and illicit goods.鈥澨�
Strengthening security on the ground, engaging youth, recovering weapons and disarming militia are among government measures aimed at restoring order in the affected areas.听
President听Ke茂ta听also听used his speech to pay听tribute to听the听UN听Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (), and to foreign forces听deployed听in his country听and听elsewhere in the Sahel region.听
He acknowledged that they are working in听a 鈥渃omplex and听difficult听environment鈥�.听
