Thursday 27th September, 2018
“We have, first
and foremost, the responsibility to accelerate our efforts for the Pact for
Peace,” Guterres told
– United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged the international
community to redouble efforts at addressing, what he termed as the
“nefarious mix of challenges” affecting Mali and the Sahel to allow
the region to take advantage of its potential.
“We have, first
and foremost, the responsibility to accelerate our efforts for the Pact for
Peace,” Guterres told a high-level meeting on Mali and the Sahel on the
sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
In attendance was the
President of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta.
For the
Secretary-General, delays in the implementation of the peace agreement in Mali
would only “aggravate security problems and hinder the march towards
stability”.
“It is time for
all parties to honour their obligations, including accelerating the
implementation of the road map of 22 March.”
Mr. Guterres added
that the dividends of peace should “materialize” for the Malian people in their
daily lives.
“To this end, it
is essential that Malians take ownership of this process, and that the broader
spectrum of Malian society, including – and especially – women, has a
voice,” he said.
AIP/GNA