The peace process in Mali has hit a stumbling block, with almost all of the northern armed groups that signed the Algiers peace agreement in 2015 suspending their participation due to a “persistent lack of political will” on the part of the Malian authorities. However, this weekend saw an international mediation team, consisting of representatives from Algeria and the five member countries of the UN Security Council, take an important step towards reviving the peace agreement.
According to a press release, the mediation team presented “concrete proposals aimed at reviving the peace agreement” to both the Malian government and the ex-rebels. While official details remain scant, insiders have revealed that the proposals include “priority actions” such as the operationalization of the ad hoc commission on the chain of command of the reconstituted armed forces.
One of the most sensitive issues is the future reconstitution of the regular army, with ex-rebels keen to retain their current stripes. The mediation team has also suggested the start of the DDR operation (disarmament, demobilization, reintegration) for a first batch of 13,000 ex-combatants, out of the 26,000 agreed, upon, and the launch of development fund projects. Furthermore, the team has highlighted the importance of updating security arrangements regarding the ceasefire, following the recent tensions sparked by a Malian army plane flying over the city of Kidal, controlled by the ex-rebels.