MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Mali
17.4.2012 - (2012/2603(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Véronique De Keyser, Patrice Tirolien, Pino Arlacchi, Maria Eleni Koppa, Thijs Berman, Ana Gomes on behalf of the S&D Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0201/2012
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the European Union ‘Strategy for the Sahel’,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the military victories of armed groups seeking independence or pursuing jihad in northern Mali in March were accompanied by looting, rape, abductions and numerous atrocities;
B. having regard to the military coup of 22 March;
C. having regard to the statement by the UN Security Council of 4 April expressing its support for the efforts of ECOWAS to re-establish constitutional order, and expressing its concern about the presence of Al-Qaeda Maghreb (AQMI);
D. having regard to the agreement on the restoration of constitutional order signed on 6 April under the aegis of ECOWAS;
E. whereas, in accordance with the 1992 Constitution, the President of the National Assembly has been appointed Interim President;
F. whereas the first round of the presidential elections was scheduled for 29 April and whereas the Constitution provides for the interim presidency to lapse and elections to be held within 40 days;
G. whereas a presidential election cannot be held while part of the country is occupied by illegal armed groups;
H. whereas the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union has ‘pledged the European Union’s full support for the efforts of ECOWAS’;
I. whereas the situation in Northern Mali continues to threaten the stability of the whole of the subregion;
J. whereas the Sahel arc is a pivotal area between Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe, with implications for the security both of Africa and of Europe;
K. whereas the European Union has a vital interest in the security, stability and development of the Sahel and Sahara region;
L. whereas the proliferation of arms and ex-Gaddafi mercenary armed groups from Libya has made it possible to reinforce the illegal armed groups in northern Mali;
M. whereas avowed links exist between terrorist groups in the Sahel and Sahara region and traffickers in drugs, arms, cigarettes and human beings, particularly involving the taking of hostages for ransom;
N. whereas 13 people are being held hostage;
O. whereas the alliance of Islamist terrorist groups ‘Boko Haram’, ‘MUJAO’ (Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa), ‘Ansar Dine’ and ‘AQMI’ is present in northern Mali and its ranks include numerous combatants who are not Malians;
P. whereas these groups have the avowed aim of imposing Sharia law throughout the territory of Mali;
Q. whereas on 6 April the Tuaregs of the MNLA declared Azawad independent, without consulting the area’s people;
R. whereas Malian political parties, ECOWAS, the African Union and the European Union considered this declaration null and void;
S. whereas the establishment of new African States could not in any way assist their development;
T. whereas the unfulfilled promises made to the Tuaregs, particularly at the time of the ‘National Pact’ of 1992, have helped to create a sense of frustration;
U. whereas, for recruitment purposes, terrorists exploit the development deficit, insecure conditions, social deprivation and the poor employment prospects of many young people in the region with no prospects, by offering them illegal but substantial earnings;
V. whereas it is primarily the Malian Army – possibly with external support – that bears responsibility for combating jihadist and separatist groups;
W. whereas the enormous size and sparse population of Mali’s territory and its long, ill-defined borders necessitate good international coordination of information and action and sophisticated methods of detection, protection and neutralisation;
X. whereas in order to combat terrorism and the various forms of trafficking, it is necessary for all countries in the Sahel and Sahara region to cooperate;
Y. whereas these efforts to control terrorism and the various forms of trafficking are in the direct interests of the European Union and its Member States, as any instability and trafficking in the subregion have implications for the security of the European Union;
Z. whereas terrorism in the Sahel needs to be fought partly by means of an active policy to promote development, social justice, the rule of law and integration;
AA. whereas it is necessary to hold out to local population groups economic prospects which provide an alternative to the criminal economy;
AB. whereas serious food shortages are affecting 16 million people in the subregion, which is stricken by drought;
AC. whereas Mali is normally the main agricultural producer in the Sahel;
AD. whereas the insecurity in Mali is a factor which aggravates the food crisis because of the disruption of food supplies affecting all the border areas;
AE. whereas the turmoil in northern Mali has resulted in large numbers of livestock being moved to the south, where supplies of forage, water and food are at dangerously low levels;
AF. whereas more than 200 000 people have been displaced from northern Mali, more than half of whom have taken refuge in neighbouring countries;
AG. whereas the price of Malian cotton has fallen by half in the past year;
1. Condemns the acts of violence perpetrated by armed groups; condemns in particular the atrocities committed against the civilian population, which have particularly been directed against women;
2. Congratulates ECOWAS on its decisive political action to restore constitutional order in Mali as well as in Guinea Bissau, and hopes that the mastery of methods of resolving conflicts thus displayed will make it possible to eradicate from the territory of West Africa any threat of a coup d’état;
3. Hopes that the territorial integrity of Mali will be restored;
4. Hopes that a humanitarian space will be created which will make it possible to supply food and medicines for the people of northern Mali, whether still in their home area or living as refugees;
5. Congratulates the Commission on having quickly released the funding required to meet humanitarian needs;
6. Calls on the European Union to step up its action to assist the people of the region by helping to give them better access to water and public education and health services, as well as better infrastructure in order to improve access to the region;
7. Calls on the Malian authorities to combat all Mafia-style trafficking vigorously;
8. Calls on all countries in the subregion to step up regional cooperation to combat terrorism and all forms of trafficking; urges the European Union and its Member States to make their contribution to coordination a priority;
9. Calls on the European Union and its Member States to support efforts to increase the capacities of the States in the region and to mobilise all available resources to protect the people and promote security and development in the region in cooperation with the States in the region and inter-State organisations;
10. Calls for consideration of the possibility of a European ESDP mission with a mandate from the UN Security Council to provide logistic support to the Malian Army and for a possible ECOWAS force or a joint ECOWAS/African Union/United Nations force to secure the areas of Mali not occupied by illegal armed groups;
11. Hopes that the ESDP mission will help the countries in the subregion to control their borders more effectively, particularly to combat arms and drugs trafficking;
12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the institutions of ECOWAS and the African Union, and the Interim President of Mali.