Mali / Peace and reconciliation agreement

The Coordination of the northern groups has initialled Mali’s peace agreement. This is a significant step forward. I call on these groups to sign the peace and reconciliation agreement in Bamako tomorrow.

I pay tribute to Algeria’s mediation and particularly the efforts of my colleague, Ramtane Lamamra, with whom we worked to get a consensus.

The commitment of the northern groups would not have been possible without the contribution of all the international and regional players, all of whom have an interest in Mali’s peace and security and whom I thank.

Two years on from the French engagement in Mali to thwart the country’s takeover by terrorist groups, 20 months on from the election of the President and of Mali’s National Assembly, this is a new milestone in the development, peace and security of the whole of Mali.