EU to assist Mali unearth perpetrators of recent massacre
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The European Union (EU) Special Representative for the Sahel, Angel Losada of Spain, who was received on Monday in Bamako by Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita, has expressed EU's willingness to assist in unveiling the perpetrators of the recent massacres of 160 people in Ogossagou, Central Mali, PANA learned from official sources.
"We have shown our solidarity, as well as our willingness to support Mali in the investigation process," said Losada, carrying a letter from the High Representative of the European Union and Vice-President of the Commission, Mrs Federica Mogherini, to the Malian President, Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita.
He revealed that the European Union expresses, in the letter, "its deep emotion, sympathy and condolences" following the recent events in Mali, suggesting that impunity will not prevail and justice will pass, because "it is the only way to go beyond the problems that have occurred, it is the only way to reconcile".
According to a source close to the Malian Presidency, the talks between the two officials focused on the implementation of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation, which emerged from the Algiers process, signed in May-June 2015, by the Malian government, armed groups in northern Mali and the international community with a view to achieving a definitive peace in Mali after a series of Tuareg rebellions that began in the early 1960s and have now intensified with terrorist attacks in the north, centre and sometimes even the south.
The next meeting of the G5 Sahel Foreign Ministers and European Ministers, scheduled for 14 May in Brussels, was also discussed. "We will see on this occasion, the security situation in the region and in Mali and also the various contributions we are making," Mr. Losada announced.
The two personalities also discussed the situation of Malian domestic politics and reported on relations between the European Union and Mali.
Since the beginning of the security and institutional crisis in Mali in 2012, the EU, in addition to its contributions to institutional and economic development, has been involved in training Mali's armed and security forces.
-0- PANA GT/IS/MTA/VAO 16April2019
