UN speech on the Sahel: President Francois Hollande
President Francois Holland commended the initiative to convene this high-level event and the presence of many heads of state and government, ministers bear witness to the lucidity of the international community about the situation “ Today the Sahel.”
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/UN-speech-on-th...
He said that the invasion of northern Mali was not just a challenge for the Malian government, it was a threat to West Africa and the Maghreb. It was also a risk to the entire international community. When a territory as large as France is occupied by terrorist groups whose goal is not simply to control a population, but to provide a base for offensive action conducted by similar terrorist States in the region, then the entire world was also threated.
This was why the Security Council has already begun to act following the resolution adopted in July 2056 under Chapter VII. But it was now time to move to the second stage.
This was made possible by the willingness of the Malian authorities, and the President saluted them, along with both ECOWAS, the African Union and the UN have called for the establishment of a stabilization force to organize the reconquest of northern Mali. He said that France fully supported this initiative. It now required the approval of the UN Security council under Chapter VII to allow the force to organize and be set in motion as soon as possible.
I know there may be still the temptation to negotiate. But negotiate with whom? Those political forces who want to take their part in building the future of Mali,of course, but the president said there could be no question of negotiating with terroristgroups. Misunderstandings, loss of time, any process that delays matters , could only benefit the terrorists. This was why he was now convinced that if, after the meeting, there was a wish at a high level that the Security Council passes this resolution, then the terrorists will be preparing an operation, and the Malian authorities could rebuild their forces and ECOWAS and Africa can take full responsibility.
The President added that it was a prerequisite for all development operations and population support for the Sahel that terrorism should be eradicated in this region of Africa.
He welcomed this consistant development. In this respect, France fully supported the strategy presented by the Secretary General of the UN, which aims to mobilise all agencies, funds, programs and financial institutions within the United Nations for the Sahel. He recalled that Mr. Van Rompuy President of the European Union had already added France in relation to the EU’s own commitments. He added that development strategy for Mali mustalso be applied to all concerned countries including Mauritania and Niger.
There was a double emergency going beyond what could be done in the medium and the long term for development.
The first priority was to dominate the food crisis, which had been compounded by terrorism resulting in misery of poverty and hunger. France, again, would be fully involved in the European effort and he hoped that there will be a mobilisation of all multilateral banks so that even more could be done for rural development.
The second emergency concerned the tens of thousands of displaced refugees across the sub-region. Again, the international community had to help the Sahel states to cope in a coherent strategy by taking into account the specificities and orientations chosen by each country.
It was the responsibility of everyone to act on two fronts, the President said. The first front was to set up a comprehensive, coherent development in the medium and long term. The second front, he used the word deliberately - was to ensure that the EU and others can intervene, that Africans can intervene. Because t Africans were now the key, if the EU and others supported them, backed by all the elements of international law. France, in any case, would not be idle he affirmed. The incidents of severed hands, women raped, displaced children were intolerable. The destruction of monuments and shrines which were treasures of humanity was inadmissable. The world could not accept that terrorism could be incorporated into a territory.
The President said that France would support all initiatives and would then, after the UN Security Council motion had been passed giving the action the force of international law, do all it could in terms of logistics to support planned operations.He also welcome the Secretary General's decision to send a special representative.
At one point the international community had to take responsibility for Mali and the Sahel. That time had come, President Francois Hollande concluded.
This was why the Security Council has already begun to act following the resolution adopted in July 2056 under Chapter VII. But it was now time to move to the second stage.
This was made possible by the willingness of the Malian authorities, and the President saluted them, along with both ECOWAS, the African Union and the UN have called for the establishment of a stabilization force to organize the reconquest of northern Mali. He said that France fully supported this initiative. It now required the approval of the UN Security council under Chapter VII to allow the force to organize and be set in motion as soon as possible.
I know there may be still the temptation to negotiate. But negotiate with whom? Those political forces who want to take their part in building the future of Mali,of course, but the president said there could be no question of negotiating with terroristgroups. Misunderstandings, loss of time, any process that delays matters , could only benefit the terrorists. This was why he was now convinced that if, after the meeting, there was a wish at a high level that the Security Council passes this resolution, then the terrorists will be preparing an operation, and the Malian authorities could rebuild their forces and ECOWAS and Africa can take full responsibility.
The President added that it was a prerequisite for all development operations and population support for the Sahel that terrorism should be eradicated in this region of Africa.
He welcomed this consistant development. In this respect, France fully supported the strategy presented by the Secretary General of the UN, which aims to mobilise all agencies, funds, programs and financial institutions within the United Nations for the Sahel. He recalled that Mr. Van Rompuy President of the European Union had already added France in relation to the EU’s own commitments. He added that development strategy for Mali mustalso be applied to all concerned countries including Mauritania and Niger.
There was a double emergency going beyond what could be done in the medium and the long term for development.
The first priority was to dominate the food crisis, which had been compounded by terrorism resulting in misery of poverty and hunger. France, again, would be fully involved in the European effort and he hoped that there will be a mobilisation of all multilateral banks so that even more could be done for rural development.
The second emergency concerned the tens of thousands of displaced refugees across the sub-region. Again, the international community had to help the Sahel states to cope in a coherent strategy by taking into account the specificities and orientations chosen by each country.
It was the responsibility of everyone to act on two fronts, the President said. The first front was to set up a comprehensive, coherent development in the medium and long term. The second front, he used the word deliberately - was to ensure that the EU and others can intervene, that Africans can intervene. Because t Africans were now the key, if the EU and others supported them, backed by all the elements of international law. France, in any case, would not be idle he affirmed. The incidents of severed hands, women raped, displaced children were intolerable. The destruction of monuments and shrines which were treasures of humanity was inadmissable. The world could not accept that terrorism could be incorporated into a territory.
The President said that France would support all initiatives and would then, after the UN Security Council motion had been passed giving the action the force of international law, do all it could in terms of logistics to support planned operations.He also welcome the Secretary General's decision to send a special representative.
At one point the international community had to take responsibility for Mali and the Sahel. That time had come, President Francois Hollande concluded.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/UN-speech-on-th...