The African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the European Union commend the parties to the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali on the effective launch of the interim authorities in Kidal (on 28 February) and in Ménaka and Gao (on 2 March), and urge them "to overcome the difficulties" that are impeding the establishment of interim authorities in the Taoudéni and Timbuktu regions.
This was the message given in a joint statement on Wednesday 8 March by the four organisations, in their capacity as members of the mediation team supporting the implementation of this peace and reconciliation agreement.
The AU, UN, ECOWAS and EU also commend the successful conduct by the parties of the first mixed patrol in Gao, within the framework of the operational coordination mechanism, and call on the parties to extend these mixed patrols (comprising military from the regular army and former fighters from armed groups) in order to secure the north of the country.
The four organisations say they are "deeply concerned by the deteriorating security situation in Mali", especially in the north and central regions, and strongly condemn the attacks perpetrated on Malian armed forces on 5 March (see EUROPE 11739). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)