Strengthening transitional institutions in Mali, "a necessity," says Messahel

In his address at the ministerial meeting of the Sahel core countries Messahel emphasized the need to "base our support on our conviction that the responsibility is incumbent first upon our Malian brothers."
 
In this regard, he called for assisting them "in their choice with respect for their sovereignty," and "setting all conditions for consensus on representation, especially in the government," with the involvement of Malian political parties and leaders, as well as the armed forces in the national project for the settlement of the crisis, particularly in northern Mali.

Strengthening transitional institutions in Mali is a "necessity" and a "precondition" for the settlement of other problems in the country, said  Minister for Maghreb and African Affairs Abdelkader Messahel on Monday in Niamey, Niger’s capital, APS reported.

Algeria has consistantly held by the same statements regarding through the preservation of national unity and territorial integrity of Mali  since the crisis began. He reiterated  the same statement when Mali's Foreign Minister  Sadio Lamine Sow visited Algiers in early July. Algeria also holds to the principal of noninterference in the affairs of another country. This has caused some frustration amongst those who would prefer a more direct approach.

Abdelkader Messahel has devoted most of his life to African Affairs since joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1971.  He has has wide ranging  experience including serving as Ambassador to Burkino Faso, and being in charge of African affairs in the Permanent Mission of Algeria to the United Nations in New York as well as having close contacts with the AU. Algeria plkayed a key role in brokering an agreement with the government of Mali and the Tuaregin 2006.

Mali's democracy  decined well before the coup against the then president Amadou Toumani Touré on 21 March 2012. It has to be rebuilt on solid foundations and Mali has to be the source of its own salvation and act with a responsible  and effective  government.

Perhaps time is running out for this to happen as regards the islamist  extremism of Ansar Dine and the danger
of international terrorism  with AQIM and Mujao in the North.Also the longer the delay continues the more the people of Mali suffer, both in the North and all the hundreds of thousands  displaced refugees who may never see their homes again.