S/PV.8568 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Mali to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2019/532, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by France. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2019/454, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Mali. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2480 (2019). I shall now give the floor to those Council members who wish to make statements.

France welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2480 (2019), which renews the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) within its current scope for one year. I welcome the presence of the Ambassador of Mali among us here today. The resolution we just adopted sends a firm message with regard to urgently needed progress in the implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. It defines five concrete and achievable measures that the Council would like to see fully implemented in a year’s time, and the implementation of which will be subject to an initial mid-term assessment by the Secretary-General in six months’ time. The consequences of not meeting those targets are also clearly established. Those who block the implementation of the agreement will be faced with sanctions. In that respect, we have just initiated a designation procedure with respect to five individuals responsible for obstructions, following the failure to achieve the priority objectives defined by the Council in June 2018 in the previous MINUSMA mandate. The Council has also established that any person placed on the Mali sanctions list will in practice not enjoy any support from MINUSMA or the United Nations. Resolution 2480 (2019) also draws conclusions from the deteriorating situation in the centre of Mali. It calls upon the Malian authorities to immediately develop a comprehensive strategy to bring an end to the violence and ensure the return of the State. It encourages MINUSMA to strengthen its work in the region, which is now elevated to the level of a second strategic priority. Without questioning the primacy of support for the implementation of the peace agreement in the north, the resolution requests the Mission to ensure that sufficient resources are devoted to its mandate in the centre, building upon the efforts that have already been made in recent months, notably through the development of an emergency plan for the Mopti region and the creation of a dedicated sector. The resolution also requests the Secretary-General to conduct an assessment in six months’ time of the Mission’s capacity to implement all of the tasks that are assigned to it by the resolution in its current configuration and to potentially make recommendations in that respect. Resolution 2480 (2019) also outlines a clear view of MINUSMA’s future by establishing that its withdrawal strategy is based on the redeployment of the Malian armed forces across the territory of Mali as well as the full operationalization of the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel), without in any way jeopardizing the concerted efforts that have been made thus far to stabilize Mali and the Sahel. In that respect, the Security Council continues to promote partnerships among the various security presences deployed on the ground in keeping with each of their mandates. Notably in that respect, it extends the geographic perimeter of MINUSMA’s support for the G-5 Sahel Joint Force in the framework of the technical agreement, provided that any delivery beyond Mali’s borders is carried out by a third party and that there is a commitment from the Council to reconsider the provision put in place by resolution 2391 (2017) in a year’s time. It is for all actors involved to demonstrate that this is useful in the months ahead. The Council also calls on the European Union and the United Nations to strengthen the coordination of their actions in support of security sector reform and the restoration of the presence of the State in the centre, including, if necessary, through the signing of new technical agreements between MINUSMA and the European missions. All the security presences deployed on the ground are, lastly, encouraged to ensure that their actions are complementary, through regular consultation within the national coordination body. In accordance with the recommendations made in the context of Action for Peacekeeping, resolution 2480 (2019) gives MINUSMA a clear, practical and concise mandate. It supports the implementation of the adaptation options presented in the latest report of the Secretary-General (S/2019/454) that will allow it to continue to increase the Mission’s efficiency and effectiveness. It welcomes the measures taken in recent months to strengthen MINUSMA’s posture and encourages the continuation of efforts to strengthen the security of its personnel. I would like to reiterate our unstinting support for the irreplaceable role played by the International Criminal Court for peace and security in Mali. Resolution 2480 (2019) recalls the importance of Mali respecting its obligations under the Rome Statute. That is an absolutely essential step on the path towards lasting stability. I would also like to recall our conviction that in the Sahel more than anywhere else it is important that the actions of the United Nations and local Governments fully take into account the impact of climate change and other environmental factors on security. Resolution 2480 (2019) recalls that, but we would like to continue to work with our partners with a view to going even further to develop the climate and security agenda within the Council. I will conclude my statement by warmly thanking all the members of the Security Council for the open and constructive spirit that they demonstrated throughout this negotiation. The unity that is traditionally characteristic of the Council on the Malian dossier is a major advantage, allowing us to continue to play a decisive role in the promotion of peace and security in the country. We must do everything we can to maintain that and to derive the maximum benefit possible from it. That is the rationale on which the resolution we adopted today is predicated. As this is the last time I will participate in a Security Council meeting, I would like to express my gratitude to each Council member for the partnership and the friendship that we have established and developed over the past few years. Allow me also to very sincerely congratulate my team sitting behind me, who are a credit to public service and do France great honour.

Following the adoption of resolution 2480 (2019), which renews the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) for a period of 12 months until June 2020, I would like to make this statement explaining the vote of the African members of the Security Council, namely, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire. We voted in favour of renewing the mandate of MINUSMA in the interests of peace, security and stability in Mali and the Sahel region. We are of the view that the continued presence of MINUSMA in Mali is essential to the stability of the country and of the entire Sahel region. The situation in Mali remains worrisome, and the security environment is fragile. Persistent asymmetrical threats are a source of serious concern and exacerbate the current humanitarian challenges. In his most recent briefing to the Council, Mr. Mahamat Saleh Annadif, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Mali (see S/PV.8547), told us of the achievements of the Government of Mali in the implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. We recognize that the ongoing political process, carried out by the new Government of national unity, is a step in the right direction and that the Security Council should make every effort to fully support this process, including through holding an inclusive political dialogue to address issues related to the revision of the Constitution and the reaffirmation of the commitment of the signatory parties to implement the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. We are also aware that the Malian parties must do more to make progress in other important areas of the peace agreement, including the redeployment of the reconstituted and reformed Malian defence and security forces, decentralization and the establishment of the northern economic development zone. With the renewal of this mandate, we encourage the Malian authorities to redouble their efforts, with the support of MINUSMA, to fully implement the peace agreement, which is essential for the realization of its political, economic and development vision and is in the best interests of the Malian people. It is disturbing to note that questions concerning the MINUSMA transition and withdrawal strategy have already been raised even though the situation in Mali is still unstable. We believe that discussions on the transitions and mandates of peacekeeping operations must be based on a factual and thorough assessment of political and security conditions on the ground. Moreover, such discussions should be considered only when the circumstances on the ground have improved substantially. We have also reiterated that we are in favour of MINUSMA providing support to the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel. We welcome the fact that the issue continues to remain on the Security Council’s agenda. In principle, we believe that sanctions can be adopted as useful instruments to constructively contribute to a political process, as provided for in the Charter of the United Nations. We are concerned about an approach whereby sanctions might be used and could have unintended consequences on political processes. We therefore wish to draw the attention of Council members to the need for due process of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2374 (2017), concerning Mali, and we stress the importance of leaving sufficient time for Council members to deliberate on the issues before them. In conclusion, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire encourage all Malian stakeholders, especially women, to participate fully and inclusively in the political process to put an end to the crisis in Mali. We remain firmly convinced of the need for an inclusive approach and strong national ownership so that the political process can fulfil its potential and bring about the dividends of lasting peace, security and stability for the brotherly people of Mali. As Ambassador François Delattre is preparing to leave his position as Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, I wish to pay tribute, on behalf of the Permanent Representatives of the three African members of the Council, to a highly skilled diplomat and talented negotiator. Throughout some of the Council’s most sensitive moments, he has been able to bring about a sense of compromise in order to find consensus-based solutions to the often-complex challenges we face. We wish him the very best in his new role and hope that our paths will cross again, in other forums, as we continue working together towards our common goal of peace, security and development throughout the world.

At the outset, we wish to congratulate France for the excellent work and efforts made in drafting and seeking points of convergence among Member States in order to reach the consensus that led us to adopt resolution 2480 (2019) today. The Dominican Republic voted in favour of this resolution because we are aware of the worrisome security situation prevailing in Mali. It is essential that the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) continue supporting the people of Mali in the consolidation of political gains made through the implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. We understand that this resolution establishes a satisfactory balance between the challenges existing in the country, especially in the centre and north. In order to address those challenges, the Malian parties, MINUSMA and other international actors must advance the implementation of clearly defined concrete measures. We have witnessed a reduction in the representation of women in institutions that support the implementation of the agreement in Mali. Despite the balance struck in this resolution and certain paragraphs devoted to the issue of women, we would have preferred to retain some references to ensuring the equal and meaningful participation of women, as established in resolution 2423 (2018). Likewise, we regret that it was not possible to incorporate the undeniable negative impact of climate change on the economic and social stability of Mali in the operative part of the resolution. We consider this a missed opportunity to pay particular attention to one of the main challenges that Mali faces in the scope of its development and sustainable peace. We are convinced that this one-year renewal of the MINUSMA mandate creates a window of opportunity for the full implementation of the agreement and is a step in the right direction to achieve the long-sought stability and peace in Mali. Finally, we cannot miss this opportunity to formally bid farewell to the Permanent Representative of France. We recognize the valuable work he has done and appreciate his undeniable commitment and dedication. We thank him for his inspiring service.

It is very nice to see you, Mr. President, presiding over today’s meeting, and I thank our French colleagues for their work on resolution 2480 (2019). I must also bid Ambassador Delattre farewell and thank him for his leadership in the Security Council. I am grateful for his friendship to me personally, as well as for the friendship between our Missions and our countries, which I know will remain strong in all circumstances. The Council has heard appalling accounts of intercommunal violence in central Mali in recent months, including the massacre of 160 people during the Council’s visit to Mali in March. Urgent action to tackle the root causes of violence in central Mali is needed to save lives and reduce human suffering. It is also important with respect to wider regional stability. The mandate agreed today will crucially allow the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) to support a comprehensive strategy to stabilize central Mali but, while MINUSMA has a role to play, any efforts in central Mali must be Malian-owned, politically led and genuinely inclusive, including through the participation of women and civil society actors. It is right that the primary strategic objective of MINUSMA remains focused on support for the peace agreement. It has been six years since the Council adopted resolution 2100 (2013), which established MINUSMA, four years since the parties signed the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali and over a year since the parties committed to a road map for the implementation of priority actions. Yet the key political actors are still failing to deliver their commitments to their people, while brave peacekeepers and innocent Malian civilians continue to lose their lives. Once again, we urge all the parties to redouble their efforts to meet the benchmarks set out in this resolution. All Malians deserve to live their lives free of fear and insecurity and to reap the dividends of a lasting peace.

Germany welcomes the adoption of the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) for another year. I would like to highlight four aspects of resolution 2480 (2019) that are particularly important to us. First, Germany welcomes that the primary strategic priority for MINUSMA remains support to the implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. Secondly, we support the fact that MINUSMA now has a clear set of tasks in order to support the Malian Government in confronting the crisis in the centre of Mali. Thirdly, we welcome the fact that the need for operational support from MINUSMA to the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel has been recognized. Fourthly, we were very clear throughout negotiations that the adverse effects of climate change on the stability and security of Mali needed to be explicitly referenced in the resolution. Those are key challenges that the international community needs to address collectively and urgently. In conclusion, I would like to thank the French delegation for its leadership in the negotiations. On behalf of Germany, I would like to thank Ambassador Delattre for the excellent cooperation between our two countries, exemplified by our dual presidency throughout March and April, and wish him all the best.

Belgium welcomes the adoption of resolution 2480 (2019), which renews the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and better reflects the two main challenges to stability in Mali, that is, the slow implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali and the situation in the centre of the country. Belgium attaches great importance to MINUSMA, as demonstrated in particular by the fact that MINUSMA remains the principal commitment of the Belgian army across all United Nations peacekeeping operations. Belgium welcomes the fact that the resolution states that the responsibility for stabilizing the country rests primarily with the Malians themselves. Belgium also thanks all members for responding to the appeal of the member countries of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel) for facilitating MINUSMA support for the G-5 Sahel Joint Force. An evaluation of that mechanism in 12 months’ time is also something to be welcomed. Nevertheless, Belgium regrets the fact that the resolution does not sufficiently recognize the negative impact of climate change on the security situation. The evidence of climate change as a multiplier of risks in Mali and the Sahel is clear. I call upon Mali and the United Nations to take climate change and other environmental changes into account in their activities, programmes and strategies. Lastly, Belgium congratulates France for its willingness to shorten and clarify the mandate. Allow me to say a few words of thanks to Ambassador Delattre. I must say that I have been very impressed by his team’s invasion of the Council’s seats. The presence of the French team is not only tribute to the exceptional diplomat that Mr. Delattre is, but it also demonstrates the excellent way in which he has represented his country for the past five years in New York. I would like to thank him personally and on behalf of my Mission and my country and from the bottom of my heart for his commitment, friendship and collaboration. He has inspired all of us, not only with his critical mindset, eloquence and, even, I would say, his elegance, but also through his humane and fair approach. I wish him every success in heading the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs at the Quai d’Orsay. I ask him to come back to see us very soon during the high-level week. I thank him very much.

At the outset, my delegation would like to congratulate the Kuwaiti presidency for its excellent and participatory work in guiding the Security Council’s efforts during this particularly busy month, which is reflected in the number of resolutions that have been adopted. Peru voted in favour of resolution 2480 (2019), as we believe it is vital to continue to support Mali in its efforts to assert the State authority, protect civilians and achieve peace and national reconciliation. We would like to thank France for its efforts undertaken during the discussions on the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in order to achieve consensus among all members of the Council, bearing in mind the importance of this peacekeeping operation. We welcome in particular the fact that this resolution establishes clear and specific criteria for the effective implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, which we reiterate must remain the priority for the people and Government of Mali. We also underscore that the resolution includes a more appropriate mandate for MINUSMA, which can help it address the dramatic situation in the centre of the country. Once again, we stress the importance of Council members continuing to work together to provide MINUSMA with the necessary tools, because its presence on the ground is essential for achieving stability in Mali. Before concluding, my delegation would like to take this opportunity to convey to Ambassador François Delattre, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, our best wishes for success in the high-level functions that have been entrusted to him by his Government, which he will soon take up. We are sure that his outstanding contribution in the new role that he is taking will be as valuable as it has been in the Council, during which time he has worked effectively to address the issues on the Council’s agenda, such as the maintenance of international peace and security. I warmly congratulate him and extend to him the friendship of the Peruvian delegation.

The United States would like to thank Security Council members for a collaborative negotiation and express our gratitude for France’s extraordinary efforts in developing resolution 2480 (2019) and conducting the negotiations. I also want to join our colleagues today in bidding farewell and expressing our gratitude to Ambassador Delattre. He has served France honourably both in New York and in Washington, D.C., and his service to this organ has been instrumental in maintaining international peace and security, as well as promoting liberty and equality around the world. We will truly miss him, and we wish him all the best. With another year of insufficient progress in implementing the 2015 Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, agreed in Algiers, and worsening insecurity in central Mali, we cannot accept the status quo for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). We needed to create the right mandate to respond to the escalating violence and hold the signatory parties accountable. Resolution 2480 (2019) will help accomplish both. First, we have made the significant decision to create a second strategic priority for MINUSMA focused on central Mali, the most dangerous region in the country. The number of attacks, human rights violations and abuses and civilians killed has reached a level not seen in Mali since 2012. This second strategic priority shows Malians that MINUSMA, with more than 16,000 personnel and a budget over $1 billion a year, will prioritize support to the Malian Government’s efforts to improve civilian protection and respect for human rights by re-establishing a constructive and rights-respecting State presence in the centre. The Government has the primary responsibility for ensuring security, opportunity and access to services there, and it needs to act accordingly. Secondly, this mandate again makes clear that the Mission’s key focus is to support implementation of the peace agreement, as it has done for the past four years. The United States has consistently noted our deep disappointment with the parties’ lack of progress on that agreement. This resolution includes new specific and measurable benchmarks focused primarily on the political and security pillars of the agreement. We expect the parties to make significant progress on those benchmarks, and to do so soon. To reinforce that expectation, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2374 (2017), concerning Mali, is on the verge of designating more individuals under the regime of resolution 2374 (2017). The timely message of these designations makes clear to all the parties that the Council will hold accountable those who block progress on the agreement to clear the way for leaders who will work together to achieve the agreement’s goals: power-sharing through institutional reform, redistricting and more elections. This is no ordinary mandate renewal, because MINUSMA is no ordinary peacekeeping Mission. Since its creation, in 2013, MINUSMA has operated in a challenging, dangerous and asymmetrical environment. It is a peacekeeping Mission in a counter- terrorism environment. MINUSMA peacekeepers are consistently and purposefully attacked by unrelenting violent extremists who are mobile, smart and organized. Mindful of those unique and deadly challenges, this mandate more adequately focuses its attention on MINUSMA’s troops, which make up more than 80 per cent of the Mission and the main share of its budget. It calls for improved troop and police performance, more control and flexibility for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Force Commander and better predeployment training for incoming troop- contributing countries. Significantly, it asks for a level of detailed reporting that we have not received so far. Resolution 2480 (2019) mandates bi-annual assessments by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, in coordination with the Force Commander, on performance, operations, rotations and the Mission’s work with the other security actors in Mali. It also calls for the Mission to work with those other security actors to develop a transition plan to coordinate the eventual transfer of security responsibilities. We very much look forward to hearing about those plans. The United States intends to ask both the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Force Commander to present them in person next year. We note that the resolution contains references to the International Criminal Court (ICC), and refer to the United States policy on the International Criminal Court as announced by the United States on 10 September 2018. In particular, the United States reiterates its continuing and long-standing principled objection to any assertion of ICC jurisdiction over nationals of States that are not parties to the Rome Statute, such as the United States and Israel, absent a Security Council referral or the consent of such a State. Mali, as a State party to the Rome Statute, has consented to the ICC’s jurisdiction and, as noted in the resolution, has referred the situation to the ICC. The United States remains a leader in the fight to end impunity and continues to support justice and accountability for international crimes, including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. We respect the decision of those nations that have chosen to join the ICC, and in turn we expect that our decision not to join and not to place our citizens under the ICC’s jurisdiction will also be respected. Finally, the Council expressed support in the resolution for the delivery of life support consumables to the contingents of the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel) operating outside Mali through the reimbursable support mechanism originally detailed in resolution 2391 (2017) and later in the United Nations, European Union and G-5 Sahel’s technical agreement. We have seen minimal use of this option inside Mali itself and look forward to the Secretary-General’s assessment next June as we consider whether to continue this mechanism. On that note, the threat of terrorism is a reality across all of West Africa, not just the Sahel, and the Council should review the problem comprehensively. It is time to transform the stand-alone report and briefing on the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel into a broader discussion of terrorism challenges across West Africa, including the devastating conflict with Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province, and the increased threat to littoral countries. This broader discussion should draw attention to the conflict’s impact on millions of people across the region and the efforts of all regional forces to combat terrorism. We have not had a dedicated meeting on the Lake Chad basin region since April 2018 or a meeting dedicated to security and humanitarian issues there since September 2017. It is high time we merged those subjects into one, rather than focusing exclusively on the Group of Five for the Sahel. In conclusion, we salute the soldiers, civilians and contractors in MINUSMA who risk their lives for a brighter and more secure future for the people of Mali. The United States honours the sacrifices that they and their families make each day, and most of all we hope that the Malian parties see in this resolution a clear, collective message that they must take urgent steps to implement the Peace Agreement in order to create stability in Mali and an opportunity for its people.

I would like at the outset to thank Ambassador Delattre for his professionalism, calm and leadership. He has served not only his country, France, but also the European Union and the whole United Nations family in an exemplary manner. I also want to express our deep appreciation for the excellent cooperation we have had with both François and his team, and I hope that in his new assignment back in Paris he will further contribute to strengthening the traditionally strong links between Poland and France. I wish him every success, and I share the sentiments expressed in that we hope to see him back very soon in New York in September. Let me take this opportunity to thank France for its efforts in coordinating the negotiations. Poland welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2480 (2019), which is an important one. Today the Security Council has sent a message of unity in support of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and stability in Mali. We voted for the resolution in order to express our full support for the efforts of MINUSMA, whose role in promoting stability and reconciliation in the country remains essential, despite the very complex security situation on the ground. The presence of the Mission in northern Mali is essential to preserving the gains that have been made since the signing of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. At the same time, we believe it is necessary to strengthen MINUSMA’s efforts in central Mali so as to facilitate the restoration of State institutions. Poland believes that support for the implementation of the Agreement remains MINUSMA’s core priority. There can be no doubt that to be successful, its implementation requires full inclusivity, especially for women, as well as a strong commitment on the part of all relevant stakeholders. Those who are trying to obstruct this process must face the consequences. In conclusion, I would like to express our gratitude to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Mahamat Saleh Annadif, as well as to the personnel of MINUSMA, the United Nations country team and the troop- and police-contributing countries for their commitment in extreme and challenging conditions.

I would first like to join others in echoing the expressions of gratitude that we have heard today and conveying our best wishes to our colleague François Delattre, the Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, with whom we have had the honour of working for the past five years. We wish him every success in his new, high-level post. The Russian delegation supported the adoption of resolution 2480 (2019), which extends the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). We support the peacekeepers deployed in the country, who are making a major contribution to ensuring stability and security in Mali. Given the discussions we have had and the provisions in the document we have just adopted, we want to once again underscore that the Mission’s main priority continues to be helping Malians to implement the 2015 Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali and restoring a full State and military presence throughout the country. These measures are fundamental prerequisites for normalizing the situation in the country and preventing inter-ethnic violence in central Mali. We believe that a Security Council tool such as sanctions should be used with a great deal of caution and consideration and only in the most extreme cases. In our view, the existing restrictive measures have to prove their effectiveness and be subject to regular independent review by the Panel of Experts. We also hope that Mali’s law-enforcement agencies will take a more active role in curbing the illegal activities of both sanctioned individuals and other spoilers of the political process. We would like to recall that general questions of peacekeeping that have an impact on all United Nations peacekeeping operations should be discussed in the General Assembly Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, with the participation of troop-contributing countries. Such issues also include the Secretariat’s as yet unfinished strategy for improving peacekeeping performance, which is mentioned in the resolution. We are puzzled by the attempts to actively integrate it into every mission’s mandate even before its content has been presented to Member States. Circumventing the Special Committee is unacceptable. Unfortunately, our arguments in this regard, which other delegations also raised during the process of the negotiations on today’s resolution, were only partially taken into account. We believe that a useful tool for correcting the so-called penholders’ misuse of their role as curators of dossiers would be a Security Council presidential note aimed at the fair distribution of those responsibilities among all the States members of the Council.

I would first like to take this opportunity, on behalf of my Permanent Representative and the whole Indonesian delegation, to bid farewell to Ambassador François Delattre and extend all best wishes to him. He has always contributed very constructively to the work of the Council, and that has been instrumental in promoting its unity. We very much admire his exemplary diplomatic skill. We wish him the very best, bon voyage and au revoir. Indonesia welcomes the adoption of resolution 2480 (2019), which renews the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) for one year. We thank France for its efforts as penholder and all delegations for their constructive spirit in crafting a balanced, consensus- based resolution. Indonesia concurs with the view expressed in the latest report of the Secretary-General (S/2019/454) that MINUSMA’s presence in Mali remains crucial. In this regard, the renewal of MINUSMA’s mandate, which includes a prioritization of its tasks, coordination with other security presences in Mali and the Sahel region, and division of labour with the United Nations country team, will enable further progress and prevent any deterioration of the situation in Mali. Granted, there are many areas in which further progress is necessary. Today we adopted a resolution that contains a set of priority measures, on which we hope to see progress in the coming months. As we said during the briefing on MINUSMA earlier this month (see S/PV.8547), all parties in Mali have to muster the political will to accelerate the implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. Allow me to reiterate our support and appreciation to MINUSMA and all its personnel in delivering its mandate as well as possible under increasingly difficult circumstances. We hope that the resolution that we have just adopted will contribute to the achievement of lasting peace, stability and prosperity in Mali. Before I conclude, let me reiterate our sincere thanks and appreciation to the Kuwaiti delegation for a very effective and productive presidency.

China wishes to begin by congratulating Kuwait on its successful stewardship of the Security Council’s work as rotating President for June. Thanks to the efforts of Ambassador Alotaibi and everyone in the Kuwaiti Mission, this month the Council’s work has been orderly and highly efficient, which China appreciates. On behalf of Ambassador Ma Zhaoxu, I also extend our sincere greetings to Ambassador Delattre and thank him for his contributions to the Council’s work. I also wish him every success. As we speak, the peace process in Mali is at a critical juncture, facing security, economic, development and other challenges, and requires the active assistance of the international community. The smooth renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), with the current strength unchanged, can facilitate the ongoing efforts of the United Nations and the international community to continue to help the Malian Government and people in advancing the implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali and in bolstering its security capacities. We are keen that MINUSMA should fully implement the Council’s mandates and strengthen measures to increase the protection of the safety and security of its peacekeepers. As the situation in Mali is closely linked to that of its neighbours and the Sahel region, we hope that MINUSMA can continue to support the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel in accordance with the Council’s resolutions. China is ready to join the other Council members and the international community in contributing to peace, stability and development in Mali.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Kuwait. We would like to begin by thanking the French delegation, which, as penholder, put forward resolution 2480 (2019). We also thank the French delegation for its collaboration with all Council members during the deliberations on this resolution. We voted in favour of today’s resolution because we are fully convinced that the situation in Mali requires the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) to be a peacekeeping mission with a robust and comprehensive mandate. We underscore the importance of renewing the Mission’s mandate for another year with a view to ensuring continuity in its work, in particular given the many political challenges and security threats in the north and centre of Mali. We believe that the tasks set out in the resolution presented by France today address the situation in the best way. The Mission is called upon to implement the objectives in accordance with the priorities entrusted to it by the Security Council. That would undoubtedly lead to making progress on the political track with a view to addressing the situation in Mali. We also welcome the expansion of the Mission’s mandate in the centre of Mali, a region that recently faced many difficult security challenges. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of Mali.

I would like to begin by thanking you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to take the floor on the occasion of the adoption of resolution 2480 (2019), which is extremely important for Mali. I warmly congratulate the delegation of Kuwait, under the excellent leadership of Ambassador Mansour Alotaibi, on a successful presidency of the Security Council. Mali welcomes the unanimous adoption of this extremely important resolution renewing the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) for an additional year. I would like to commend the leadership of the French delegation, penholder of the resolution, as well as every member of the Council for their positive contributions and their spirit of compromise, which led to this result. I would like to pay special tribute to Ambassador François Delattre for his kindness, his leadership, his heightened ability to listen and his willingness, as well as his constant support for Mali and the countries of the Sahel. He chose to devote his last appearance in the Council to Mali. Mali is grateful for that, and I am particularly so. We are very honoured to see him here in the Council, and I wish him a good return to Paris and every success at the Quai d’Orsay. He leaves behind in New York only friends. I reiterate my invitation: the Malian residence is always large enough to host a true friend. Mali understands the significance of the important resolution that the Council has just unanimously adopted. I know that, in addition to renewing the mandate of MINUSMA for an additional year, the Council also reaffirms the support and commitment of the international community to Mali and its people in order to help us to restore lasting peace and stability, with full respect for the sovereignty, national unity, territorial integrity and unitary and secular character of the State of Mali. Before going any further, I would therefore like to convey to the members of the Council the warm thanks of His Excellency Mr. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, President of the Republic of Mali, the Government and all the people of Mali for the extremely important resolution that they have just adopted. I would like to express my gratitude to our Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, and to all the men and women of MINUSMA, who, I know, work every day in extremely difficult conditions to help the Malian people to bring about peace. I have taken due note of all the comments and high expectations that Council members have just expressed, and I promise to faithfully bring them to the attention of my authorities. For our part, I would first like to assure the Council that the Government, under the authority and leadership of the President of the Republic, will tirelessly continue to implement the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, emanating from the Algiers process, in an inclusive manner, in particular with the active participation of the signatory movements. The Malian parties are already working on a new road map, which includes realistic and achievable tasks and timelines that are in line with the benchmarks contained in the resolution just adopted. Turning to the situation in central Mali, Foreign Minister Tiébilé Dramé was here on 12 June (see S/PV.8547). He informed the Council of the developments in the situation in Mali and announced a series of measures taken by the Government for the long-term settlement of the critical situation in the central region of Mali, including in particular the political framework for crisis management in central Mali, aimed at a holistic response combining the political and the military and security approaches. In addition to those measures, the President of the Republic appointed Dioncounda Traoré, former interim President of Mali, as the High Representative of the Centre, with a view towards unifying all measures taken by the State to achieve a rapid and lasting return to peace and stability in that part of our country. In parallel with those measures, as part of the efforts to find a comprehensive solution to the crisis in Mali, the process of organizing the inclusive political dialogue, called for by the Head of State, has entered its operational phase, with the 26 June appointment of eminent Malian persons who have been entrusted with leading the national dialogue and the anticipated political and institutional reforms to that end. With regard to resolution 2480 (2019), which the Council just adopted, the Government of Mali welcomes the fact that the Security Council first, granted its request that MINUSMA continue to accord strategic priority to its mandate in support of the implementation of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, which emerged from the Algiers process; and, secondly, MINUSMA’s second strategic priority be to support Mali and its armed and security forces, with a view to ensuring the lasting stabilization of the situation in the central regions of Mali. In that regard, I welcome the establishment of the dedicated military sector in central Mali a few days ago. With regard to regional considerations, I welcome the decision to extend the benefits of the technical agreement to all deployment areas of the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel. The mandate that the Council has just conferred upon MINUSMA requires the provision of adequate material, financial and human resources for its implementation. I know that deliberations are under way in the Fifth Committee today to mobilize the relevant resources. I would like to make a political appeal. It is one thing to confer the mandate upon MINUSMA, and it is another to provide MINUSMA with the adequate means to realize it. On behalf of the Government of Mali, I therefore call for the provision of the resources needed for MINUSMA to fulfil its mandate. In that regard, we hope that the report of the Secretary- General expected to be issued in six months’ time will help to raise the level of resources commensurate with the mandate and challenges on the ground. In conclusion, on behalf of the Government and the people of Mali, I once again pay tribute to the memory of all civilian, military, foreign and Malian victims who fell on the field of honour in Mali.

Before adjourning this Council meeting, as it is the last scheduled one for June, I would like to express the sincere appreciation of the delegation of the State of Kuwait to Council members and its secretariat for all their support to us this month. It has indeed been a busy and special month, during which we achieved consensus on several important issues before us. We could not have done it alone or without the hard work, unlimited support and positive contributions of every delegation in the Council, as well as the representatives of the Secretariat, including officers of the conference services, interpreters, translators, verbatim reporters and security staff. As we end our presidency today, we wish every success to the delegation of Peru in presiding over the Council for the month of July. In addition, given that this Council meeting is the last for His Excellency Ambassador François Delattre, we wish him every success on behalf of the members of the Council in his future endeavours. Undoubtedly, we will miss him and miss his effective participation in the Council’s work. He has been an outstanding representative of France. He has also left a meaningful mark on the work of the Council, and we have seen how much he is appreciated when members of his delegation and Council members gave him a big round of applause.