Brussels, 15/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - Substantial commitments in the order of €3.25 billion were made in Brussels on Wednesday 15 May by the international community of donors for the economic and democratic recovery of Mali, which today faces many challenges - humanitarian, security, democratic and economic - as does the whole of the Sahel region. This conference of donors for the development of Mali, “Together for a new Mali”, which was co-chaired by the French government and the European Union and which was attended by more than 80 countries and international and regional organisations such as the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the United Nations, the EU, Japan, the United States, the countries of the Sahel, Morocco, Chad and ECOWAS, can therefore be deemed a success (EUROPE 10845). However, the conditions for making the money available have yet to be determined, and these promises were made in return for commitments on the part of the transitional authorities of Mali in favour of good governance, democratic reforms and elections to be held on the scheduled date of 28 July - a form of “contract”, as French President François Hollande described it. Of this sum, which far outstripped the expectations of the authorities of Mali, the European Union has officially announced a contribution of €520 million to cover the needs identified in the national plan for the sustainable recovery of Mali over the next two years. Dioncounda Traoré, the transitional president of Mali who, the day before the conference, stated that he would “do all in his power” to ensure that the presidential elections started on 28 July, described 15 May 2013 as a “historic day for Mali” and thanked all of the donors, and France in particular, for all their “sollicitude and for having come to our assistance when we needed it the most”. The budget required to pay for the national plan for the sustainable recovery of Mali 2013-2014 has been put at €4.3 billion by the Mali authorities, working with the international donors.
“The importance of this meeting cannot be measured simply in terms of the money pledged. We are showing that we, Europeans and Africans, can come together in aid of a cause which is of interest to us all, because it is a source of concern but also of hope”, said French President François Hollande (our translation), stressing that at a time when “the AFISMA is stepping aside, the French army is withdrawing and with a peacekeeping operation due to take over in early July, terrorism has not left the Sahel. Development and political dialogue are now the weapons we have to stop the terrorist groups coming back”.
Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, echoed his words by stressing that the “links between development, democracy and security are inseparable” and stressing that “Europe will stand by Mali at a time when its future is being decided” to re-establish stability, democracy and development, by securing a new national consensus. “The main priority is to improve the humanitarian situation, but if we are to ensure that aid gets where it is supposed to go, stability and security are vital.” On Wednesday evening, he hosted a working dinner for the heads of state and government who attended the conference, in order to debate the most urgent needs of Mali and the entire region of the Sahel.
José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, said that by pledging more than €520 million ($577 million), the EU is showing that it is more determined than ever to support the re-establishment of the rule of law in Mali. “We are demonstrating our confidence in a democratic and peaceful Mali, which is culturally open and tolerant”, he said. Joe Costello, the Irish minister for trade and development, whose country currently holds the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU, pledged that Ireland would make an additional €2.5 million available for humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Mali (€1.8 million in humanitarian aid was allocated by Ireland in 2013). “Nearly 750,000 people in Mali need immediate assistance. These additional funds will go to help refugees and other civilian populations affected by the conflict, and to help communities to rebuild their lives”, he said.
Through Hollande, France announced that it would provide €280 million. The country's foreign affairs minister, Laurent Fabius, stressed that “this aid calls for a reciprocal commitment to ensure that the money donated is put to good use. The aid is also conditional on a strong commitment on the part of Mali in terms of transparency, governance and democracy. The authorities of Mali must implement major decentralisation, justice, anti-corruption and public finance reforms. The payment of the money depends on developments in the political process, which must allow national reconciliation, inclusive institutions and the creation of legitimate democratic authorities.”
If the donors wish to achieve peace following the military intervention under French leadership, what is needed is to help Mali to rebuild its own capacity to govern itself and stop its slide into economic ruin, warned Oxfam International, which published a report on Wednesday entitled “Mali: A new development contract”. Marietou Diaby, director of Oxfam in Mali, said that “the donors must learn the necessary lessons from the crises in Afghanistan and Somalia: a narrow approach to win a military conflict is never enough to achieve sustainable peace and long-term security.” (AN/transl.fl)