At the Palais de Koulouba in Bamako, the President of Transition, His Excellency Bah N’DAW received in audience the Special Representative of the Secretary General of United Nations at  Mali and Head of MINUSMA, Mahamat Saleh Annadif  Oct.  6, 2020. (MINUSMA twitter) 

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

The UN Special Representative for Mali and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA) Mahamat Saleh Annadif  welcomes this weeks’ lifting of ECOWAS sanctions on the west African nation Mali.  ECOWAS lifted  crippling sanctions imposed on Mali following a military coup in August that overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta.  ECOWAS cited the recent appointments of the president and prime minister, among other developments, as reason ending sanctions.  Last month, Mali’s transition committee named  former defense minister Bah N’Daw to lead the West African nation to new elections. The new president is expected to serve as head of state for several months before civilians return to power.  Annadif and N’Daw met Tuesday to discuss the Mali situation and the future of the country. 

“Thanks to the constructive dialogue between the ECOWAS CEDEAO  and the transitional authorities, the sanctions against Mali have just been lifted. I welcome this happy development which comes at the same time as the formation of the government. So much good news that should allow us to focus on the many challenges facing the transition.”

-UN MINUSMA Head Mahamat Saleh Annadif 

Held in the presence of the new minister Zeïni Moulaye , the discussions focused on the support of MINUSMA to the implementation of the Agreement  for peace and Reconciliation, as reflected in the Transition Charter, to political & institutional reforms, and elections.  Among the royal ministries, the former prosecutor Mohamed Sidda Dicko is appointed to justice and the former ambassador Zeïni Moulaye for foreign affairs. 

UN MINUSMA Peacekeeping Mission in MALI Continues Operations Despite Military Coup

MINUSMA, which supports political processes and reconciliation in the Mali, continues operations despite the August military coup.  The military mutiny  has plunged the west African nation into political chaos. The  (MINUSMA) peacekeeping force  maintains 15,451 military personnel in Mali.  Peacekeepers also carry out several security-related tasks to ensure stability and protection of civilians.