CIAO DATE: 10/2012
September 2012
"Mali: The Need for Determined and Coordinated International Action", the latest briefing from the International Crisis Group, raises alarm over the deteriorating political, security, economic and social situation in the country, stemming from the power vacuum following the military coup. To prevent further disintegration of the state and the spread of violence and extremism to the neighbouring area, swift and concerted action must be taken at national, regional and international levels. “All scenarios are still possible, including another military coup and social unrest in the capital, which risk undermining the transitional institutions and creating an even more explosive situation”, says Gilles Yabi, Crisis Group’s West Africa Project Director. Six months on from a military coup in March, none of the pillars of the Malian state has been able to give a clear direction to the political transition. The announcement on 23 September of a hard-won agreement between Mali and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the conditions for deployment of a West African force is promising, but over the last few months the regional organisation has shown serious limitations, which now require it to work more closely with the African Union and the UN.
Resource link: Mali : pour une action internationale résolue et concertée [PDF] - 1.1M