Algeria expressed its “full readiness” to actively accompany Mali and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) “on the path of mutual understanding on a vision of solidarity that safeguards the supreme interests of the Malian people,” according to a press release issued by the Presidency of the Republic on Tuesday.
In her capacity as a leader of international mediation and chairperson of the Follow-up Council for the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in Mali, which stems from the agreement of Algeria, and as a neighboring country that shares land borders with the Republic of Mali and a long-term history marked by good neighborliness, and through its recent communication with the Malian authorities, warning of the consequences on the security and economic policy that may result from a long-term transfer of power as desired by the financial side, Algeria has advocated for a calm and realistic dialogue with the Economic Community of West African States in order to reach a plan to exit the crisis that takes into account international requirements and the legitimate aspirations of the Malian people as well as internal factors linked to national financial dynamics.
“In the same spirit, the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, insisted on January 6, when receiving a high-level financial mission, the necessity of the Mali transitional authorities’ commitment to make 2022 the year of establishing an inclusive and consensual financial constitutional system, aimed at perpetuating the gains and requirements of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in Mali, emanating from the path of Algeria,” the press release adds.
“President Abdelmadjid Tebboune also stressed the need to adopt a comprehensive approach compatible with the complexity of the structural and economic problems, as well as the challenges that must be raised, including the fight against terrorism, and that a transitional period of 12 to 16 months is reasonable and justified,” according to the same Statement.
“The President of the Republic also stressed Algeria’s constant keenness on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Mali, and called on the leaders of the transitional period to show a spirit of constructive responsibility,” the statement added.
The same source continued: “In view of the grave risks posed by the package of sanctions announced in Accra as a result of the extraordinary meeting of the Economic Community of West African States summit, as well as the countermeasures announced by the Government of the Republic of Mali, Algeria calls on all parties to exercise restraint and return to dialogue to spare the region the spiral of tensions and the exacerbation of the crisis.”
In conclusion, the statement of the Presidency of the Republic affirmed that “faithful to the principle of promoting African solutions to African problems, which are the basis of qualitative contributions to the African Union, Algeria expresses its full readiness to actively accompany the Republic of Mali and the Economic Community of West African States on the path of mutual understanding around a vision of solidarity that safeguards the supreme interests to the brotherly Malian people.”
