Secretary-General Calls on All Stakeholders in Mali to Defuse Tensions around Local Elections

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General takes note of the decision of the Malian Government to organize local elections on 20 November.  He acknowledges that the Malian Constitution precludes further postponement of the polls, which have already been rescheduled three times.

The Secretary-General notes that important delays in the implementation of key provisions of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, pertaining to the establishment of interim administrations and the security situation in the north and certain parts of the centre of the country, may compromise the organization of the poll.  He also notes the reservations expressed by the democratic opposition and some of the signatory armed groups to the Peace Agreement regarding the holding of the local elections on the date envisioned.

The Secretary-General calls on the Malian Government, the democratic opposition and the signatory parties to the Peace Agreement to ensure the conduct without incident of the elections in the localities where political and security conditions allow their organization on 20 November.  He encourages the Malian Government to pursue a constructive dialogue with all stakeholders to defuse tensions that may arise before and after the poll and to ensure that the holding of these elections do not compromise the advances made in the implementation of the political and security interim arrangements provided for by the Agreement.

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) will support the conduct of the polls within its resources and in its areas of deployment where it will be possible to conduct the elections by providing logistical and security assistance as provided for by its mandate.