Peace in Mali requires a more comprehensive approach

On the 15^th of May 2015, a peace ceremony was held in Bamako celebrating a potential step towards ending three years of violent conflict, but there is little reason for optimism.

Signing the agreement with one coalition of the Tuareg rebels does not present a viable solution to the crisis in Mali. DIIS researchers argue for a more comprehensive approach focusing on:

• Inclusion of all groups of the North instead of the current limited focus on North/South divisions and Tuareg separatism.
• Eradicating the incentives for engaging in criminal activities currently sustaining the armed groups in the North should be part of peace building efforts.
• Re-establishing a non-biased inclusive national dialogue about the future and local reconciliations processes to do justice to the past.
• Ensuring efficient implementation and external monitoring of all aspects of the peace agreement.

The crisis in Mali developed following a coup in 2012. Over the last three years an increasing number of deadly attacks on government forces, humanitarians and UN peace keepers have taken place. Since 2013 Denmark has supported the UN peacekeeping operation called MINUSMA.