Dear colleagues,
Albania draws attention to the deteriorating security and dire humanitarian situation in Mali. We thank France as the penholder for leading these challenging negotiations on the mandate renewal.
We are in full support of the one-year extension and believe the draft provides MINUSMA with the necessary mandate to support Mali and its people.
It is undeniable that the security situation in Mali remains complex and is further challenged by the presence of foreign military personnel. The recent sharp increase in human rights violations remains of great concern. We urge the Malian forces to adhere to human rights law and international humanitarian law while conducting military operations.
MINUSMA must be guaranteed freedom of movement to implement its mandate in full. Any restrictions may impact the mission’s effectiveness to carry out its mandating tasks.
Lastly, we encourage the Malian authorities to work constructively with ECOWAS and develop a transition calendar to hold elections and return to constitutional order.
Thank you.
