Credit: diplomatie.gouv.fr /  German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (left)  and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs (France) Jean-Yves Le Drian at Munich Security Conference Feb. 15, 2019. 

By Gary Raynaldo /    DIPLOMATIC TIMES

The UN Peacekeeping Mission (MINUSMA) in west Africa nation Mali is the  deadliest in the world. More than 120 peacekeepers have been killed and nearly 400 injured in Mali since MINUSMA was created in 2013.  The number of civilian casualties from last weekend’s  attack on a village in west Africa nation Mali has increased to more than 150 killed, according to the UN Mission.  MINUSMA is on top of the  UN Security Council’s Agenda this month. France and Germany have been called into action to help find a diplomatic solution to stop the violence in Mali as they are co-chairs of the Security Council March-April.  These two European countries have agreed to form a  sort of Franco-German multilateral alliance by jointly preparing the Security Council’s working agenda for the 60 days of the co-chairmanship.  The arrangement is quite unprecedented. It seeks to “re-galvanize” the Franco-German partnership in the framework of the United Nations. 

Meanwhile, both German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas  and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs (France) Jean-Yves Le Drian are currently in New York for the UN Security Council meeting.  Le Drian is visiting New York from March 27 to April 3. During this visit,  Le Drian will set out France’s priorities at the UN Security Council, which it will chair until March 31.

Credit: .diplomatie.gouv.fr/ France and Germany will consecutively chair the UN Security Council in March and April 2019.

When asked at a press conference in Paris last month what issues will be priority for France in March when it takes over the  presidency of the Security Council: 

“It will focus on active support for peacekeeping, especially in Mali; conflict resolution and the commitment to peace; strengthening humanitarian access and protecting humanitarian personnel working in dangerous areas; compliance with international humanitarian law; and the defense of women in armed conflict and boosting their participation in the peace process.”      

Statement by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs Spokesperson (Paris – February 25, 2019)

‘A special day in Franco-German relations’ :   Foreign Office 

Credit: German Federal Foreign Office / photo by: © Florian Gaertner/photothek.net / Foreign Minister Maas meets
Jean-Yves Le Drian in Berlin Mar. 27, 2019.

Germany’s Federal Foreign Office billed the highly anticipated meeting between Maas and Le Drian in the German
city Berlin as “A Special Day In Franco-German Relations”.

“The French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian started a new tradition today: as of now, a member of the Government of France or Germany will take part in the cabinet meeting of the other government each quarter. This intensified cooperation is enshrined in the Treaty of Aachen, in which Germany and France set out an ambitious programme of collaboration in January.”  

-Federal Foreign Office Statement. 

Before driving together to the cabinet meeting, Foreign Minister Maas met his colleague for breakfast at the Federal Foreign Office. Their talks focused on the Treaty of Aachen and cooperation in the UN Security Council.

France Foreign Minister Chairs UN Security Council Meeting Situation in Mali

Representatives of over 100 states meet at UN To Discuss How Peace  Can Be Strengthened

Le Drian  chaired on March 29, a  meeting of the UN Security Council on Mali in the presence of Malian Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres;   On March 28, Le Drian led a ministerial meeting on the G5 Sahel alongside his Burkina Faso counterpart and in the presence of the authorities of several G5 states.

France Presidency  Of The UN Security Council Ends March 31 

Accord de paix au Mali 🇲🇱 : « au cours des 6 derniers mois, la mise en œuvre du processus de paix s’est accélérée. Il n’était que temps. »@JY_LeDrian #FrPrez pic.twitter.com/YzzK83xoGG

— La France à l'ONU (@franceonu) March 29, 2019

GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER MAAS  ON A MISSION AT UNITED NATIONS

How to strengthen @UN peacekeeping operations? FM @HeikoMaas is on his way to #NewYork for consultations with representatives of more than 100 states. pic.twitter.com/wlOmvaRROB

— GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) March 29, 2019

Franco-German friendship in New York

The German Foreign Minister’s trip to the UN in New York is important, according to the Foreign Office: 

“France, Germany’s close partner, has held the presidency of the UN Security Council in March, so this peacekeeping conference is taking place in the final phase of the French presidency. Germany will take over the presidency at the beginning of April. The two countries coordinated closely to fix the priorities for their presidencies in successive months. This is a project which breathes life into the Treaty of Aachen and the strong Franco-German friendship at international level, too. Working together like this, the two countries want to contribute to peace and security.”

Regarding the UN MINUSMA mission, the German Federal  Foreign Office stated that the aim is to work with the Government and armed forces of Mali to further improve the situation in the country.

UN Security Council Debate On Mali Peacekeeping 

“German Stands Shoulder To Shoulder With Mali. The European Union stands ready to help with capacity‑building. The peace mission cannot replace the political process.”

HEIKO MAAS  – Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany

The work of @UN_MINUSMA deserves our full support. In the Security Council, Germany will continue to work towards a strong and comprehensive mandate for the mission. – FM @HeikoMaas during today’s #UNSC debate on #Mali. pic.twitter.com/VmU14YyQCi

— GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) March 29, 2019

MINUSMA  MALI   UN MANDATE  EXPIRES IN JUNE 2019

Credit: UN Photo/Evan Schneider  / Soumeylou Boubeye Maïga, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mali, addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation in his country March 29, 2019.

Soumeylou Boubeye Maïga,   Prime Minister of the Republic of Mali, told the Security Council   that peace and stability in MALI  depends on the continued support and presence of the UN MINUSMA. 

“Seven years ago, Mali was under threat, with much of its territory in terrorist hands and the State in freefall, he said.  Today, thanks to massive investments by the international community through MINUSMA, the leadership of the President and the determination of its people, Mali is back on its feet.  But, the situation remains concerning, with the jihadist threat still present, particularly in the centre, and implementation of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement still too slow and fragile for the international community to consider its work to be done.  Mali is at a crossroads.  Either peace takes root and socioeconomic development can spread, or the country will take a great leap backwards — a risk the entire international community must prevent.  Any withdrawal will be seen as a sign of weakness and possibly deal a fatal blow to peace and reconciliation.”     PRIME MINISTER OF MALI, Maïga.       “Reducing its means will have extremely negative consequences that will strengthen terrorist groups.  MINUSMA plays an essential role in supporting “Operation Barkhane” and the G‑5 Sahel joint force.”

The Mali Prime Minister suggested the Security  Council study the possibility of giving ECOWAS member States a role in strengthening MINUSMA’s capacity.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres Addresses Security Council Meeting On MINUSMA MALI 

On Friday Mar. 29, 2019,  Guterres stated that the only way to prevent increased violence and instability in Mali is to tackle root causes such as grinding poverty; climate change and competition for resources; underdevelopment, and a fundamental lack of opportunities for young people.   

“I call on all national, regional and international actors to step up efforts to tackle the multiple threats facing Mali and the entire Sahel region,”  Gueterres told the Security Council. 

The Sahel Alliance launched by France, Germany and the European Union plans to invest €9 billion in the region by 2020, and a recent Group of 5 for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel) [Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger] donors conference in Nouakchott was a success, according to Gueterres.    “While we must do more to support the Malian authorities and improve security across the whole country, military approaches alone will not resolve Mali’s challenges,”  the UN Secretary-General stressed.   “Violence can only be prevented by tackling causes that include poverty, climate change, competition for resources, underdevelopment and lack of opportunities for young people.”