Bamako hosts 9th Mali-Burkina Faso-UNHCR meeting
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The Secretary general of the Malian ministry of solidarity and fight against poverty, Salifou Maïga, examined the situation of Malian refugees during the 9th Mali-Burkina Faso-UNHCR tripartite meeting held here Wednesday, official sources told PANA.
The meeting was held within the framework of the regional dialogue for the protection and search for solutions for forced displacement in the Sahel.
During the meeting which brought together the Commission for efficient management of the displaced established by Mali, Burkina Faso and the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Maïga said that as at 30 September 2019, 74,402 Malians were repatriated while 138,402 others were still refugees in neighbouring countries, including 25,719 in Burkina Faso, 56,184 in Mauritania and 56,499 in Niger.
According to the same sources, the works held in accordance with the agreement signed between the three parties in 2015 on the voluntary repatriation of Malian refugees living in Burkina Faso, aimed among other objectives at signing final documents, elaboration of an updated working plan, and the adoption of a joint communiqué.
Praising the commitment of Burkina Faso and UNHCR for the management of the displaced, MaÏga said the establishment of the tripartite activities was strengthened by the signing of the Deal for peace and reconciliation in Mali signed in May and June 2015 between the Malian government, the armed groups of the North and the international community to reach definitive peace in Mali.
According to MaÏga, the tripartite commission and the technical working group are carrying on with the implementation of the organised repatriation process for Malian refugees in the three asylum countries.
The head of the Burkinabè delegation, Sinka Seydou, explained the present context in his country marked by terrorist attacks.
"Those attacks disrupt the peaceful living of populations, causing difficult humanitarian situation marked by the increase in the number of the displaced, including about 600,000 internal displaced and 26,000 Malian refugees," he said.
-0- PANA GT/TBM/SOC/MSA/RA 27Nov2019
