Roundup on the High-Level Meeting on Mali and the Sahel at the United Nations General Assembly

On 26 September, a “High-Level Meeting on Mali and the Sahel” took place on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York. The meeting focused heavily on the issue of the G5 Sahel Joint Force. Here are a few relevant links:

• The conclusions of the event (English and French). Key quote: “Participants welcomed the progress in operationalizing the Joint Force and condemned the attack of 29 June against its Headquarters in Sévaré. They expressed solidarity with the Joint Force and concerned countries. They welcomed the European Union’s commitment to rebuild the Headquarters. Participants affirmed that mobilizing adequate support for the full operationalization of the Joint Force was critical to its success and called upon Member States to provide the necessary support to the Joint Force as per the recommendations of the Secretary-General contained in his report of 16 October 2017 (S/2017/869) and resolution 2391 (2017). They encouraged the members of the Group of Five for the Sahel to establish a political and strategic framework for the Joint Force. “
• United Nations Secretary General António Guterres’ remarks (French and English). Key quote: “My longstanding position is that the G5-Sahel Joint Force is an important demonstration of regional ownership.  It needs a strong mandate and sustained and predictable funding.”
• Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta’s remarks (French). Key quote: “The Malian state has modest resources, which do not allow it to implement all of the engagements accepted in the Accord within the prescribed period. That is why I reiterate my call for the rapid and effective mobilization of the resources promised by our partners.”
• High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini’s remarks (French). Key quote: “Together, you are stronger. That is why we have decided to invest a lot in the G5 Sahel.”
• On Twitter, Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Alpha Barry called for “speed in partners’ support to the G5 Sahel so that the joint force becomes operational on the ground.”
• Here is a brief readout (French) from Mauritanian Foreign Minister Ismaël Ould Cheikh Ahmed.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s speech (French) to the entire General Assembly is also worth reading.

Here are a few relevant tweets:

At the UNGA high-level event on #Mali/Sahel, UN, AU, and regional leaders continued to press for Ch7 mandate + "stable financing" for the G5 force. Today the US Ambassador-designate to Mali testified to the Senate that the US will not support UN assessed contributions. https://t.co/50c7ocG06F

— Alexis Arieff (@alexisarieff) September 26, 2018

On the sidelines of #UNGA73, I met M Mahamat Salah Annadif Head of #MINUSMA. We had good exchanges on the situation in #Mali and the implementation of the agreement for peace and reconciliation resulting from the #Algiers process. pic.twitter.com/nUoLgjWqzt

— Abdelkader Messahel (@Messahel_MAE) September 26, 2018

📍 #UNGA
Rencontre de haut niveau sur le #Sahel et le #Mali.
J’ai réitéré la ferme volonté de la Belgique de soutenir les autorités & la population dans leurs efforts communs pour la paix, la stabilité et le développement, qui profiteront à l’ensemble de la région. (1/2). #ONU pic.twitter.com/tlZuNaeLY1

— didier reynders (@dreynders) September 26, 2018

Cet après-midi à New York, la réunion de haut niveau sur le Mali et le Sahel en marge de l'AG de l'ONU. Le processus politique au Mali, la force du G-5 Sahel, la menace terroriste, le lien entre la sécurité et le développement, ont été entre autres abordés. pic.twitter.com/Z9vWKBHzpc

— Chérif Mahamat Zene (@Cherif_MZ) September 27, 2018

France will work tirelessly to stabilize the #Sahel region:

1️⃣ security

2️⃣ political stabilisation

3️⃣ development pic.twitter.com/O8lsKmiPZi

— La France à l'ONU (@franceonu) September 26, 2018