Malian’s Foreign Affairs Minister seek Rwandan support to restore the country

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mali, Hon. Tieman Coulibaly Rwanda visited on March 12, 2013 to discuss and seek solutions to issues revolving around insecurity in Mali.
Hon. Coulibaly visited his counterpart, Hon. Louise Mushikiwabo, in Kigali where they tackled current crisis issues in Mali as well as the ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Rwanda and Mali.

Hon. Coulibaly, appreciated Rwanda’s contribution to the process of stabilizing Mali, especially through the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). He commended Rwanda’s leadership and achievement in the last two decades.
He also transmitted the appreciations from the President of the Republic of Mali, Diankounda Traore to his Rwandan counterpart H.E. President Paul Kagame on a ‘clear position’ on the Mali’s crisis that he expressed at the recent African Union Summit in Addis Ababa.
“Looking at political angle, the contribution of Rwanda is extremely important for Rwanda, Mali and Africa. Mali can learn a lot from Rwanda’s achievement and leadership” said, Hon. Tieman Coulibaly.

On the crisis in his country, Hon. Coulibaly, said that Mali has been facing ‘strong terrorism in the North’ aiming at destroying the Nation, its civilization and unity and called upon the World ‘support. “We want to form a world of coalition to help Mali save its territory and unity.

He called upon Rwanda to reinforce peace mechanism in Mali and continue to eradicate terrorism, during the next Chairmanship at UN Security Council, so that Mali could be restored.

The Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs pledged Rwanda’s continued support especially through her chairmanship of the Security Council next month, through which Rwanda will  have Africa’s interest as a priority.

“At the UN Security Council, we will be Mali’s voice”. Hon. Louise Mushikiwabo also mentioned the continued sharing of information on the status of the crisis since it is a ‘situation which changes every day.
Regarding the bilateral ties, the Minister of Mali acknowledged having received information on the allegedly freedom accredited to Genocide convicts detained in Mali and pledged carrying out investigation and solve the matter as soon as possible.

“It will be my personal task to get things where they must be. Mali is committed to the international law. We Will do what we must do,” Hon Coulibaly added.
Mali has been facing threats of armed groups in the North of the country and recently had the intervention of the French army to stop the advance of the terrorist groups. A UN Mission to stabilize the country is currently under discussion.

More than 350,000 people have fled their homes in Mali since fighting erupted in the north in January 2012 between a Tuareg rebel movement and Malian government forces.

Tens of thousands of them have found refuge in neighbouring Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger. Some have also fled to Guinea and Togo. Some 200,000 have sought shelter within Mali.