The Commission of the Africa Union chaiperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has decried the serious threat that the entrenchment of terrorist and criminal networks posed to the stability of Mali and the surrounding region.
Addressing the meeting of the Support and Follow-up Group of the AU in Bamako Friday, Dr Dlamini-Zuma said the sooner the union dealt with the problem, the better.
Said the AU chief in a press statement: “The African Union was the first Organisation to react to the attacks against Mali by rebel groups in mid-January this year.
We did so as a matter of principle because there was and still there is no justification, whatsoever, for the use of arms, particularly when there are peaceful avenues to address legitimate concerns of a given group.
“We did so because we foresaw the likely consequences that would arise from the resumption of armed conflict in North Mali.”
According to the press release, Dr Dlamini-Zuma paid tribute to the regional Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) for its proactive involvement in the quest for a solution in Mali.
“We could not expect less from an organisation that has, over the years, made significant contributions to the promotion of regional peace, security and stability,” said Dr Dlamini-Zuma.
She also recognised the contribution of the core countries, Algeria, Mauritania, Mali and Niger in their fight against rebel and terrorist groups in the Sahel region.
The Ecowas, AU, the European Union and UN representatives were meeting in the Mali capital, hoping to finalise a clear strategy for the intervention in the troubled country.
Mali, noted Dr Dlamini-Zuma, was one of the founding members of the OAU and the AU, and the principles at stake in the Malian crises were of particular importance to the continent.
“Africa cannot simply fold its arms while two thirds of the Malian territory was under the control of armed, terrorist and criminal groups,” said Dr Dlamini-Zuma.
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