Security is everyone’s business in Mali and beyond

Only recently we could travel or go to work or the street market without having, in the back of our minds, the possibility of witnessing or being a victim of a terrorist attack, an abduction or any other types of attacks. Today, all continents are affected by the soaring terrorism. Civilians around the world live with the awareness of the risks and we can safely assume that those civilians and their leaders aspire to a safer place with optimum security.

Diplomacy and international cooperation

Terrorism has no borders. We can therefore we can only encourage international cooperation. After around ten years of appealing for collaboration with our neighbours, G5 Sahel is now in place. We however consider that G5 could, at the very least, become a G6 that includes Algeria, as this country shares more than 2,300 kilometres with Mali and Niger.

Beyond cooperation at the Sahel-Saharan level, we encourage, at EU level, concerted action to fight a terrorism-free world and against the financing of terrorism.

This obviously does not preclude the responsibilities that the Mali leaders must take charge of.

The responsibility of Mali’s leaders

Investment in military equipment and investment in the training of our men must be a priority. We must do everything in our power to ensure that our soldiers, heroes of our Nation who are ready to give their life for our country, are adequately prepared to protect themselves and protect us. This involves, among other things, the heightened specialisation of our troops according to the type of threat and this involves continuous training.

Our soldiers, our wounded or disabled veterans, wives and children: all must be safe from indigence. The increase and good management of the budget allocated to them must be a priority

Finally, the security of the country must also be ensured by the mine clearance of our ground and the strengthening of intelligence to better understand the threats and anticipate attacks.