United Nations Security Council Resolution 2640 – The situation in Mali (MINUSMA)

Resolution 2640 (2022)

The Security Council,

Recalling all its previous resolutions, statements of its President and press statements on the situation in Mali,

Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Mali, emphasizing that the Malian authorities have primary responsibility for the provision of stability, security and protection of civilians throughout the territory of Mali, urging the Malian authorities to uphold their efforts to meet their obligations in that regard, and expressing great concern at the violent and unilateral actions taken by non-State actors hampering the return of State authority and basic social services,

Reaffirming the basic principles of peacekeeping, including consent of the parties, impartiality and non-use of force, except in self-defence and defence of the mandate, recognizing that the mandate of each peacekeeping mission is specific to the need and situation of the country concerned, and recalling its Presidential Statement of 14 May 2018 (S/PRST/2018/10),

Expressing grave concern about the continued deterioration of the political, security and humanitarian situation in Mali, including through the persistence of a high level of attacks by terrorist groups, including Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), in the North and in the Centre, the continuation of intercommunal violence in the Centre, and human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law wh ich have caused the loss of numerous innocent lives, including recently near Ménaka, Gao and Bankass, where dozens of civilians were killed, as well as numerous internally displaced persons and refugees in neighbouring countries, people in critical need of assistance and children without access to education due to school closures, and have hindered humanitarian access, condemning the use of mercenaries and violations of international humanitarian law and human rights abuses perpetrated by them, expressing concern over the extension of insecurity to Southern Mali, further expressing concern over the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant ongoing food crisis in Mali, and further expressing deep concern that the situation in Mali negatively impacts that of neighbouring countries and of the Sahel region,

Emphasizing that security and stability in Mali are inextricably linked to that of the Sahel and West Africa, as well as to that of Libya and North Africa,

Welcoming the efforts of neighbouring countries as well as of regional actors particularly the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) to enhance their support to ensure Malian stakeholders build the foundations for a more stable and peaceful country,

Strongly condemning the continued attacks against civilians, representatives from local, regional and State institutions, as well as national, international and UN security forces, including the Malian Defence and Security Forces (MDSF), the G5 Sahel joint force (FC-G5S), the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), the French forces and the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali), paying tribute to the bravery and sacrifices made by the soldiers engaged in Mali and the Sahel, especially to those who lost their lives,

Acknowledging the central role of the MDSF in the fight against terrorism in Mali, taking note of the intensification of counter terrorist operations by the MDSFin Central Mali, and calling for the full respect of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in these operations,

Underlining that lasting peace and security in the Sahel region will not be achieved without a combination of political, security, peacebuilding and sustainable development efforts benefitting all regions of Mali, as well as the full, effective and inclusive implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali emanating from the Algiers process (“the Agreement”), and ensures full, equal and meaningful participation of women and youth, and welcoming in this regard the increased representation of women in the Comité de suivi de l’Accord (CSA),

Expressing its appreciation for the contribution of the French forces to the stabilization of Mali and noting also the contribution of the Takuba Task Force,welcoming the steps taken in advancing the “Coalition for the Sahel”, aimed at fighting against terrorism, strengthening the Sahelian States’ military capabilities, supporting the restoration of State authority throughout the territory, and bolstering development assistance, the Partnership for Security and Stability in the Sahel and the Sahel Alliance,

Taking note of the Transition Government of Mali’s decision to extend the transition period by 24 months starting on 26 March 2022, following the non-achievement of the agreed 18-month transition timeline, noting some work done to foster dialogue and lay the foundations for reforms, reiterating its support to the mediation efforts by ECOWAS and its mediator, and encouraging engagement in good faith negotiations, ahead of the ECOWAS Summit scheduled for 3 July 2022, in order to reach agreement on credible and acceptable timelines for the holding of inclusive, free, fair and transparent elections and the swift return to constitutional order,

Reiterating that the UN and other international partners remain firmly committed to the implementation of the Agreement as a means to achieve long-term peace and stability in Mali, acknowledging the efforts of the head and members of the CSA to enhance the implementation of the Agreement, expressing concern that the lack of engagement by the Transition Government of Mali and the Plateforme and Coordination armed groups (“the Malian parties”) has prevented the CSA meeting since October 2021, expressing a significant impatience with parties over the persistent delays in the implementation of the Agreement, which contribute to a political and security vacuum jeopardizing the stability and development of Mali, stressing the need for increased ownership and prioritization in the implementation of the Agreement, and reiterating that engaging in hostilities in violation of the Agreement as well as actions taken that obstruct, or that obstruct by prolonged delay, or that threaten the implementation of the Agreement constitute a basis for sanctions designations pursuant to resolution 2374 (2017), among other designation criteria,

Stressing that stabilization of the situation in Central Mali requires the Malian authorities and relevant stakeholders to agree on and effectively implement a comprehensive politically led strategy, and to pursue simultaneous and coordinated action on security, governance, sustainable development, reconciliation, accountability, as well as protection and promotion of human rights,

Strongly condemning all violations and abuses of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law, including those involving extrajudicial and summary executions, arbitrary arrests and detentions and ill-treatment of prisoners, sexual and gender-based violence, and trafficking in persons, as well as killing, maiming, recruitment and use of children, attacks against schools, humanitarian actors and services, and medical personnel and infrastructure identified as such, and calling upon all parties to bring an end to such violations and abuses and to comply with their obligations under applicable international law,

Reiterating, in this regard, the importance of holding accountable all those responsible for such acts and that some of such acts referred to in the paragraph above may amount to crimes under the Rome Statute, taking note that, acting upon the referral of the transitional authorities of Mali dated 13 July 2012, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) opened on 16 January 2013 an investigation into alleged crimes committed on the territory of Mali since January 2012, and further taking note of the finalization of the work of the International Commission of Inquiry established in accordance with the Agreement and as requested by resolution 2364 (2017),

Underlining the importance of socio-economic development for sustaining peace in Mali through sustainable economic development including infrastructure development, industrialization, poverty eradication, job creation, agricultural modernization and promotion of entrepreneurship, expressing the need for continued support to Mali taking into account its national priorities and needs, underscoring the importance of the rule of law in support of socio-economic development, noting that AU PCRD highlights the need for undertaking comprehensive institution-building to enhance good economic governance through the reinforcement of fiscal and financial management institutions in support of effective revenue collection, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and anti-corruption structures to ensure accountability and transparency, recalling the necessity to enhance the implementation of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS) and the United Nations Support Plan for the Sahel, and welcoming the Peacebuilding fund’s increased focus on cross-border projects in the Sahel,

Emphasizing the need for adequate risk assessment and risk management strategies, by the Transition Government of Mali and the United Nations, of ecological changes, natural disasters, drought, desertification, land degradation, food insecurity, energy access, climate change, among other factors, on the security and stability of Mali,

Commending troop- and police-contributing countries of MINUSMA for their contribution, paying tribute to the peacekeepers who risk, as well as those who have lost, their lives in this respect,

Expressing concern that some of MINUSMA’s mandated tasks have been obstructed, including through restrictions on freedom of movement, constraints on mission operations and violations of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) which may also present a risk to the security and safety of peacekeepers,

Expressing concern over reports of some training and capabilities shortfalls of MINUSMA units, undeclared caveats, non-compliance with orders, and emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability of the mission’s performance,

Recognizing the importance of effective strategic communications to the implementation of MINUSMA’s mandate and to the safety and security of its personnel, and emphasizing the need to continue to enhance MINUSMA’s capabilities in this regard,

Welcoming the independent strategic review on the responses of United Nations peacekeeping operations to explosive ordnance devices (EOD – S/2021/1042) and noting its recommendations may be useful guidance for troop- and police-contributing countries of MINUSMA,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General (S/2022/446) and the letter of the Secretary-General (S/2022/448),

Determining that the situation in Mali continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security,

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

Adopted by the Security Council at its 9082nd meeting, on 29 June 2022.