International Force In Mali: Morocco Ready To Play Key Role‏ – OpEd

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Morocco welcomed the historic decision of the UN Security Council that has unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing the deployment of an international force in Mali to restore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.

“This is a landmark not only for Mali and the region but also for the whole of Africa,” said Morocco’s ambassador to the UN, Mohamed Loulichki, in a statement to the press after the adoption of resolution 2085.

Mali
Mali

Through this resolution, the Security Council has “responded positively today to request by Mali, ECOWAS and the African continent to authorize the deployment of an international force in driving Africa, and gives a unified solidarity of the international community, “said the diplomat.

Under this resolution, the SC reiterates its concern over the situation in Mali, particularly in the North, which is a threat to the stability of this country, the African continent as well as peace and international security.

It is, moreover, note recent efforts at national, regional or international level to resolve this crisis.

The current situation in Mali is only the “tip of the iceberg of the whole situation in the Sahel to which the Moroccan presidency of the council has devoted an entire debate,” he said.

The ambassador has also expressed “his pride that this resolution was adopted under the Moroccan chairmanship of the UNSC, noting that since the beginning of the crisis, Morocco has served on the Executive Board to adopt a resolution that would help the people of Mali to regain its territorial integrity and national unity. ”

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations concerning the use of force, the resolution authorizes “for an initial period of one year,” the deployment of the international support in Mali under African leadership (MISMA) which will be particularly responsible for assisting the Malian authorities to retake areas controlled in northern Mali by armed groups terrorists and extremists.

Resolution 2085 requires that Bamako first initiates seriously a “political dialogue to fully restore constitutional order” and to hold elections before April 2013. It also invites the new Malian government to open negotiations “credible” with groups in the North, mostly Tuareg, which dissociate the “terrorist organizations” controlling this region, including Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Mujao, and unconditionally accept the unity and territorial integrity of the State of Mali, in order to meet the longstanding concerns of the people of the north.

The international community have for some time ignored Morocco’s persistent warning that sub Saharan Africa is starting to transfom into a safe haven for terrorist groups. Plagued by systematic state failure, sub-Saharan Africa’s failed states have helped facilitate internationally sponsored terrorist networks and operations.

There were some countries which were lending huge quantities of arms, money to radical extremist jihadist movement of internationally sponsored terrorist such as al Qaeda. With the continuous abduction of European humanitarian workers in the region, it is becoming increasingly obvious that internationally sponsored terrorist networks have found a permanent home in sub-Saharan Africa and even within the hearts and minds of its people. Now the international community has become fully awre of the obvious threat in the region and has decided to act quickly and effectively on two levels : to restore order and stability in the region and at the sme time to work closely with Malian authorities to launch a national dialogue to reinforce democracy, rule of law and sustinable development. Morocco as a non permanent member of the UNSC is totally aware of its responsibility and ready to play a key role in this international endeavor.

Said Temsamani

Said Temsamani is a Moroccan political observer and consultant, who follows events in his country and across North Africa. He is a member of Washington Press Club.

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