The European Union will only continue its commitment to Mali and its support for the transition if the Transition Charter is fully respected, warned the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, on Thursday 4 June, clarifying the position previously expressed following the ECOWAS summit (see EUROPE 12731/19).
The EU “stresses the need to proceed with the organisation of the Malian presidential election on 27 February 2022 under the strict conditions set out in the ECOWAS communiqué of 30 May and the communiqué of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union of 1 June, which call for the respect of the Transitional Charter, in particular with regard to the ineligibility of the transitional leaders”, said Mr Borrell on behalf of the EU27.
The Union supports the mediation of the ECOWAS Special Envoy and mediator to Mali, Goodluck Jonathan, and “calls for the establishment by ECOWAS of a mechanism to monitor compliance with the transition period”.
Scrupulous respect for the Charter is “the condition for the continued commitment of the EU and the Member States to Mali and to accompanying the transition”. The EU notes the European Council Declaration of 25 May (see EUROPE 12726/7) as well as the objectives of the Integrated Strategy for the Sahel which is based on the principle of mutual accountability (see EUROPE 12701/6).
The EU highlights that it is committed to its G5 Sahel partners in supporting development, the return of the State, the strengthening of the capacities of the defence and security forces in the fight against terrorism, and respect for the rule of law and human rights. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)