Brussels, 30/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - The EU is stepping up its preparations for helping Mali out of its serious security, political and humanitarian crisis, and discussions will be on the agenda of the forthcoming Foreign Affairs Council of member states' foreign and defence ministers in Brussels on 19 November, high-ranking EU officials revealed on Tuesday 30 October. Efforts are being made in conjunction with the United Nations, ECOWAS (Economic Community of Western African States), the African Union, the French government and other member states, including those of the United Kingdom and Belgium, in order to bring about a coordinated international response. “Coordination is good. The international community is all of the same mind”, the sources stated. The approach being taken is based on three pillars: - a credible political process to restore legitimate government and a realistic roadmap leading to elections (the ball is in Mali's court); - a negotiation process with the armed groups in the north of the country which want to become part of a government of national unity; - a credible military force to take on those, such as Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM),which do not wish to form part of a Malian government, since Mali and ECOWAS are prepared to use force to restore legitimate government.
Once there is consensus on a roadmap for the full return of constitutional order in Mali, the EU will be able to provide support through the phased resumption of its development cooperation with the country. The aid will focus on support for restoration of state institutions and the establishment of an electoral commission; the provision of direct assistance to the people; direct budgetary support, which will only resume once a legitimate government is in place; support for the security sector in Mali; support for an international force in the event of one being deployed - this would require a third United Nations Security Council resolution which could come at the end of November at the earliest as, following the meeting of the High-Level Support and Follow-up Group on the Situation in Mali (Bamako, 19 October), a draft strategic concept is still under discussion (ECOWAS is looking for 3,000-4,000 troops to be sent). This document is expected to be finalised and submitted to the UN some time during the month of November.
“We can support this African force through the Peace Facility for Africa if a request is made, and, within the limited resources available, make payment of the soldiers' wages”, the high-ranking officials said.
Support to the security sector will be given as part of the holistic EU strategy for the Sahel. In response to the European Council's demand of 19 October (see EUROPE 10714), the work of planning a crisis management concept is taking place in close cooperation with ECOWAS and the AU, in order to both train and restructure the Malian army. At this stage, it is a question of around 200 military instructors, but there is still no deadline for their possible intervention in Mali. “Planning a military mission takes time. For AMISOM it took a year”, high level officials recalled. The option of support from Malian troops has not been retained.
Three lines of intervention are being examined: (1) financial support to an ECOWAS military operation via aid to the planning and logistical support (at ECOWAS and the AU) from Bamako and Abuja (Nigeria) when the force is deployed, “but we are not yet there”, European sources said; (2) aid for the training of the Malian army (which counts 6,000-7,000 men, who are little motivated and little trained) to stabilise the institutions and ensure civil control on the military; (3) aid to the government of national unity to enable it to be in a better position for the political negotiations. The high level officials say: “We are working on the operational needs of the battle groups on the command structure and on the human resources to develop the capacity of self-training for the forces in close cooperation with the regional partners”. “It would be a question of extending the civil support mission to the internal security forces and to the rule of law in Niger (Ed: under the common security and defence policy) not only in Mali, but also in Mauritania.” “We are working in close cooperation with the regional partners and according to a strict timetable in order to report on progress to the Foreign Affairs Council on 19 November.” (AN/transl.fls)