The situation in Mali continues to justify sustained international attention and engagement, the top UN official in the West African country, El-Ghassim Wane, told the Security Council on Tuesday.

Mr Wane, head of the UN mission in Mali, MINUSMA, said this while presenting the latest UN secretary-general’s report on the peacekeeping operation at UN headquarters in New York.

He briefed ambassadors on progress in the transition and peace process while addressing insecurity and rising humanitarian needs.

Mr Wane spoke a day after a MINUSMA vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in the Kidal region, located in northern Mali. Four peacekeepers from Chad were killed, and two others wounded.

He said the casualties joined many Malians, UN and international service members, and countless civilians, who have paid the ultimate price in the collective effort towards peace.

“This is a stark reminder of the fact that the international community and the Malians are all in this together. We can only win this battle together, and the United Nations, in spite of the inherent limitations of peacekeeping, offers the best framework for achieving lasting peace in Mali and the broader Sahel,” Mr Wane added.

Mali is on track to restore civilian rule following the military coup in August 2020. A constitutional referendum is set to be held in March 2023, with elections scheduled for the following year.

Last week, the transitional president received a draft constitution which stresses good governance and countering corruption. It also calls for establishing a two-tier legislative body, among other provisions.

An electoral law was adopted in June, and the 15 members of the Independent Election Management Authority were appointed last week. A follow-up mechanism for the timeline for political and electoral reforms is also operational, Mr Wane said.

He also disclosed that the body would engage Malian stakeholders and ministers, as well as the African Union, regional bloc ECOWAS, and MINUSMA.

“However, it is also evident that the success of the electoral process will also hinge on a number of factors. Specifically, this includes the availability of the necessary financial and logistical resources, as well as security developments, which have an impact on all stages of the electoral cycle,” he said.

(NAN)