(twitter.com/un_minusma)    Ouverture ce 30/11 /2020 de l’atelier du Groupe de Soutien à la Transition présidé par le 1er ministre malien, M. OUANE, en présence du RSSG ANNADIF, des représentants de l’#UA et #CEDEAO.  Mahamat Saleh Annadif, Special Representative for Mali and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) speaks at meeting.

By Gary Raynaldo      DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

The inaugural meeting of the Support Group to the Transition in Mali, co-hosted by the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, and the United Nations, was conducted today in Mali.  U.S. Special Envoy for the Sahel Region Ambassador J. Peter Pham  traveled to Bamako, Mali on November 28 to November 30, 2020 to participate in the inaugural meeting of the Support Group to the Transition in Mali. “The United States supports this African-led initiative and its goal to coordinate and harmonize the efforts of international partners looking to support the implementation of critical priority actions and reforms during Mali’s transitional period,”  the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Global Public Affairs said in a statement.  The African Union (AU) in October ended its two months suspension of Mali’s membership in the bloc  following the military coup in the  west African nation.  The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also lifted  crippling sanctions imposed on Mali after the  military coup.  ECOWAS cited the recent appointments of the president and prime minister, among other developments, as reason ending sanctions.  In a statement, ECOWAS   noted the nomination of retired Colonel Bah Ndaw as interim president and former Foreign Minister Moctar Ouane as prime minister of the transition that is expected to last 18 months. The U.N.’s top envoy for Mali, Mahamat Saleh Annadif,  who is the  Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) also welcomed the Transitional government. 

U.S. Special Envoy for the Sahel  J. Peter Pham returned to Mali after  visiting Bamako last month where he met with the Head of the UN  Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA)   Mr.  Annadif.  Last month, Pham urged the transitional government to honor the commitments it has made to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), including holding free and fair elections within 18 months in Mali.   

Heureux de participer aujourd'hui à la réunion inaugurale du Groupe de Soutien à la Transition (GST) au #Mali, organisée par @_AfricanUnion, @ecowas_cedeao et @UN avec @GouvMali. Les #USA soutiennent cette initiative menée par l'Afrique. @USEmbassyMali @UN_MINUSMA @G5_Sahel_SE pic.twitter.com/I4rm3qSxZe

— Dr. J. Peter Pham (@DrJPPham) November 30, 2020

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.