Mali: UN report accuses state security of hampering peace process

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

The report of UN experts on Mali is not yet public, but it is already reacting. Unlike the previous ones, more focused on the action of armed groups, this one points to the direct responsibility of the authorities for obstructing the implementation of the 2015 peace agreement. The experts in particular point out the Security Department. of the State and several of its senior officials.

Publicity

There is no doubt for the UN experts, the Security of the Malian State has become an instrument at the service of “  an unofficial strategy  ”. A strategy developed "  by a small circle close to the president  " according to the authors, and which aims to delay the implementation of the agreement.

Impossible to identify all the documented obstacles. The intelligence service reportedly encouraged the division of several armed groups, in particular the CMA (Coordination of Azawad Movements) and the Platform. To maneuver, the SE - as it is called - would have led to the emergence of another coalition, the CME (Coordination of Entente Movements) in 2017. Mohamed Ousmane Ag Mohamedoune at its head would be, according to the report, one of the great protectors of State Security. However, it is under United Nations sanction.

Another practice pointed out: the manipulation by the SE of lists of combatants destined to be demobilized and reintegrated. According to the report, the average price for a place in the DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration) process is 500,000 CFA francs (760 euros).

At the top of State Security, Moussa Diawara is personally indexed on several occasions. Inadmissible for the person concerned, confides a soldier close to him. The head of intelligence refutes all these accusations and sees in this document an attempt to destabilize in a particularly difficult period for the country.

Diplomatic ballet in Bamako

Although the report has not yet been published (it should be made public by the weekend), the Malian authorities have decided to react and the diplomatic ballet has started in Bamako, reports our correspondent Serge Daniel .

Foreign Minister Tiébilé Dramé has started a series of talks on the issue with diplomats whose countries are permanent members of the Security Council. The ambassadors of France, Russia and China were individually received this Monday, August 17 by the Minister.

According to an official statement, the talks focused on the report of the UN panel of independent experts on Mali. This document, sent to the Security Council, has not yet been made public, but it is now widely circulated. "  The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mali has expressed his astonishment to diplomats  ," an official Malian source told RFI .

First on the leak of the document. Then on its content. Bamako speaks on several points of “  allegation  ”. To the diplomats received, the representative of the Malian government disputed in particular a part of the report which cites the names of army officers obstructing the peace process.

According to our information, according to another expert document not yet made public and sent to the Security Council, there is a list of six people who could be sanctioned. Among them, on the Malian government side, a former chief of staff of the Army, and on the armed and allied groups side, five names, including that of a military leader.

Newsletter Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

• Mali
• UN

On the same subject

Mali: French authorities extend "red zone" to Kayes, Ségou and Sikasso

Political crisis in Mali: assessment of the visit of Nigerian mediator Goodluck Jonathan

Ogossagou massacre in Mali: UN report blames senior officials