Mali and the Sahel region have become of increased strategic importance to Danish and European foreign policy and security
interests. The conflict in Mali is closely linked to the broader
Maghreb-Sahara-Sahel region. Following the collapse of Libya,
Sahel is only one border away from Europe. The combination
of weak states with limited control of vast territories and borders
and a power vacuum in Libya have enlarged the playing field for
rebels, transnational organised crime, violent extremism and
terrorism. The limited control of borders allows for increased
irregular migration towards e.g. Europe, driven by wide-spread
poverty and large numbers of young people looking for
opportunities and employment. Since 2012, the United Nations
Security Council has repeatedly stated that the situation in Mali
constitutes a threat to global peace and security.
Mali appeared as the epicentre for the current crisis in
the Sahel in 2011, when a Tuareg uprising spearheaded
violent Islamist groups taking control of the northern part
coinciding with a military coup in the capital
Bamako. The groups were driven back by the French led military
intervention Serval supported by i.a. Denmark. Recognizing
the potential impact in the region and beyond, the crisis in Mali
has been met with an unprecedented international response
politically, militarily and in terms of development assistance.
Mali is slowly recovering from the crisis. Democracy returned
after general elections in 2013 and the country was presented
with a historical opportunity for peace when the Malian government and the two coalitions of armed groups during
May and June 2015 signed the Algiers Peace Agreement in the
presence of the international community. However, the situation remains fragile. While state structures are in place in the Southern
part of Mali large parts of Northern Mali remain outside state
armed conflict
has played out in the North. Implementation of the complex peace
accord will be challenging, and it must be anticipated that violent
extremists and organised crime will continue to fuel the conflict.
Facing significant insecurity and being one of the poorest
and least developed countries of the world, a durable resolution
of the crisis requires recognition of the inter-dependence
between security and development. Just like peace and security
are the immediate preconditions for good governance, effective service delivery and economic growth; inclusive democratic
governance and economic growth are the long-term prerequisites
for sustainable poverty reduction and a durable peace.
It is in Denmark's strategic interest to continue our contribution
to the stabilisation and development of Mali through a broadbased
and comprehensive engagement. Denmark is a trusted partner in Mali, and has responded to the Malian crisis
with flexibility and commitment to bringing Mali back on
the democratic development track. In this regard, Denmark has
combined all instruments available in a comprehensive manner.
This policy paper provides an analysis of the political, social
and economic context in Mali, and based on this presents three
strategic objectives underpinning the future Danish-Malian partnership, namely: 1) peaceful co-existence, stability and
security, 2) democratic and inclusive governance, and 3) inclusive
and sustainable economic growth. The paper will be used as
a guiding, strategic document for the entire Danish-Malian
partnership, including the bilateral development cooperation.