Shows of solidarity with Mali

Westerwelle talks with Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra
© Free of charge provided copyright is acknowledged:Photothek / Th. Trutschel

Westerwelle talks with Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra

On his trip through West Africa, Foreign Minister Westerwelle stopped in Mali on 1 November. Following a coup, which took place more than six months ago, Mali has been in a severe crisis. Large areas of the north of the country are no longer under state control. In the capital, Bamako, Westerwelle met with Mali’s Foreign Minister Tieman Coulibaly, interim president Dionkounda Traoré and Prime Minister Modibo Diarra. He also held talks with representatives and parliamentarians from the north of Mali, including the Tuareg.

While in Mali, Westerwelle announced that the German Government will increase the amount of humanitarian aid it is providing to the country by a million euros. He said that his visit was a show of solidarity with Mali.

In Bamako, Westerwelle said that it was clearly in Europe’s interest for Mali to return to stability: “We want this proud country with its rich history to again be able to develop positively.”

A political process is necessary

Westerwelle welcomed the statement by his counterpart from Mali, Coulibaly, who said that there was a realistic chance that a political roadmap could be created before the end of November. “And this process is also necessary if we want to make progress in the long term on cooperation and stabilization.” It was crucial for the political process to include everyone, to lead towards democracy, and promote the return to democratic, constitutional order, he added.

Foreign Minister Westerwelle in talks with representatives from the north of Mali
© Free of charge provided copyright is acknowledged:Photothek / Th. Trutschel

Foreign Minister Westerwelle in talks with representatives from the north of Mali

Westerwelle offered his interlocutors German support on all levels, including humanitarian aid, development aid and education and training assistance. However, an inclusive political process to overcome the effects of the coup throughout Mali and of the crisis in the north of the country was a prerequisite for continued support. Mali’s Foreign Minister Coulibaly thanked Germany for its cooperation, which the countries have cultivated since 1960. He recalled that Germany was the first country to recognize the Republic of Mali as an independent state.

Before departing, Westerwelle had said that stabilizing Mali was a “necessity for the entire Sahel region”, adding “We count on the interim government in Mali continuing resolutely on the path towards democratization and political normalization.” Westerwelle repeatedly pointed out the danger represented by a safe haven for terrorists in a lawless region on the southern edge of the Sahara.

Further strengthening Germany’s commitment

Foreign Minister Westerwelle and Interim President Dionkounda Traoré
© Free of charge provided copyright is acknowledged:Photothek / Th. Trutschel

Foreign Minister Westerwelle and Interim President Dionkounda Traoré

The German Government is providing humanitarian aid for the refugees from the north of Mali and for the Sahel region in general. Including the increase of a million euros to humanitarian aid for Mali announced by Foreign Minister Westerwelle in Bamako, Germany’s humanitarian aid for the countries of the Sahel region in 2012 amounts to around 58 million euros, 13.5 of which go to Mali. An additional million euros will be made available to the International Committee of the Red Cross, mainly for food aid, health care, and aid for flood victims in the north of Mali.

In addition to this, the German Government has established an interministerial Sahel Task Force led by Egon Kochanke, Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa and the Sahel at the Federal Foreign Office. Alongside the Federal Foreign Office, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Federal Chancellery are also represented.

Refugees from the north of Mali in Bamako (archive)

Refugees from the north of Mali in Bamako (archive)

A country in severe crisis

Mali has been in a deep crisis since a coup against former President Amadou Toumani Touré in March. The regional organization ECOWAS has mediated in the conflict and concluded a framework agreement with those who carried out the coup. A transitional government under President Traoré und Prime Minister Diarra began work in April. At the end of August, the government was placed on a broader foundation and transformed into a “Government of National Unity”. However, Islamist forces and Tuareg groups have used the chaos following the coup to take control of large parts of the north of the country. There are numerous reports of human rights being violated. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 400,000 people have become refugees.

In recent months, the international community has repeatedly dealt with the crisis in Mali on various levels, looking for solutions to its problems.

International consultations
On 12 October, the Security Council adopted Resolution 2071 (2012) on Mali. The resolution calls for the UN Secretariat to provide military and security planners to support the joint planning by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union for the deployment of an international military force. UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon is to present a report to the Security Council by the end of November on the basis of which further steps are to be decided on.
EU Foreign Ministers also discussed the situation in Mali at their most recent meeting in October. At the moment, possibilities for the European Union to support a possible mission in Mali are being worked out.

Westerwelle’s trip through West Africa will include visits to Senegal and Nigeria.

Last updated 01.11.2012

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