Remarks on the Security Council's Field Mission to Mali and Niger
Kenya's remarks as a co-lead of the Security Council's field mission, delivered by Amb. Martin Kimani, Permanent Representative
The Security Council on 22 to 26 October undertook a field visit to Mali and Niger to assess the political, security, humanitarian and development efforts carried out by the Transitional Government of Mali.
In Mali, the members of the Security Council met with the Transitional Government of Mali, including the Transitional President, the Prime Minister, the signatory armed groups, representatives of the civil society, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Mali, head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and representatives of the UN country team.
In Niger, the members of the Security Council met with the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Force Commander of the G5 Sahel Joint Force (FC-G5S) and representatives of the UN country team.
During the Mali leg of the trip, the Security Council enquired about the preparations for holding the elections within the established 18-month timeline, including presidential elections on 27 February 2022.
We also discussed the importance of prioritising the implementation of the peace agreement, the growing threat posed by terrorism and violent extremism in Mali and the region.
In Niger, we saw the efforts being made by the joint force and engaged with the President on the growing challenges faced by Niger and the region and the measures his country is making in the areas of development, peace, and security.
This field visit enabled us to understand the challenges on the ground better, the most glaring being the security challenge in the region. The visits to the G5 Sahel Joint Force, MINUSMA memorial grounds, and the memorial site of victims of terrorism in Niger showed how much this fight for peace continues to rob the region and the world.
As I conclude, I would like to thank all those involved in making this trip a success. I thank the UN Secretariat, who ensured the logistics and security were taken care of amidst many challenges, and the Government of Niger for their wonderful hospitality.
And as I invite my co-leads to add their remarks, I also thank them for their outstanding collaboration.