What's In Blue

Posted Wed 28 Aug 2019

Mali Sanctions Regime Renewal

Tomorrow (29 August), the Security Council is expected to adopt a resolution renewing the sanctions regime on Mali and the mandate of the Panel of Experts. The sanctions measures (travel ban and asset freeze) target individuals and entities engaged in actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, or stability of Mali.

France, the penholder on Mali, held an initial round of negotiations with all Council members on 23 August. A revised draft passed silence procedure yesterday (27 August) and was put in blue. The draft resolution renews until 31 August 2020 the sanctions measures (travel ban and asset freeze). It also extends until 30 September 2020 the mandate of the Panel of Experts, which is expected to produce a mid-term report no later than 29 February 2020, a final report no later than 15 August 2020, and periodic updates in between, as appropriate.

The draft, which does not modify the sanctions regime, includes language in its preambular paragraphs from resolution 2480, which renewed the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali in June. The draft reiterates the Council’s “significant sense of impatience” with the parties over the persistent delays in the full implementation of key provisions of the 2015 Peace and Reconciliation Agreement. However, it notes, as does resolution 2480, that “a combination of some level of political will and international pressure, including through the prospect of sanctions, constituted an important factor in securing [recent] positive results”.

In the past year, the 2374 Mali Sanctions Committee has imposed a travel ban on eight individuals. The listings were proposed by France and were based on statements included in a confidential annex to reports prepared by the Panel of Experts. Listed individuals include members of the Coordination and Platform coalitions of armed groups and a member of Parliament from the ruling political party. In deciding to list them, the committee highlighted the involvement of some of these individuals in activities to destabilise Mali, including activities funded by organised crime. The draft reiterates that listed individuals shall not benefit from any financial, operational or logistical support from UN entities deployed in Mali.

Following a proposal by Russia, supported by other Council members, language was added to the draft resolution taking note of the intention of the Committee to consider the removal of these individuals if the priority measures regarding the implementation of the Agreement—which are identified in paragraph 4 of resolution 2480—are fully implemented, and the individuals designated cease all illicit activities. In response, France added language to the draft stressing that the Council “has not yet seen sufficient progress to merit such consideration”.

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