Support to the dialog and reconciliation process in Mali

projekt beendet

ContextThe Republic of Mali was hit by a major political and security crisis in early 2012. The situation has improved since the election of a civilian government in September 2013. As part of the international mediation effort led by Algeria, the Algiers Process facilitated an exchange between all parties involved in the conflict. A peace agreement between the Government and the various armed groups from northern Mali was signed in stages throughout May and June 2015.New challenges now lie ahead: the peace agreement has to be translated into a state reform, with tangible improvements to living conditions, economic development, health care and education. The people of Mali require security and access to law and justice. They have high expectations that human rights violations will be dealt with and past wounds healed, so that they can begin to live peacefully side by side once more.In 2013, a project was launched to promote dialogue and reconciliation and support the Government of Mali on its path to stable peace. On behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office, GIZ provided initial support to the National Commission for Dialogue and Reconciliation while the transitional government was in power. Since the Commission’s dissolution following the elections in September 2013, the newly created Ministry of National Reconciliation has now become the focus of German support. In the future, support may also be directed towards the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission within the Ministry.ObjectiveMali’s Ministry of National Reconciliation performs its duties and contributes to an inclusive reconciliation process that is relevant for national policy-making.ApproachThe project is comprised of three components:1. Support in planning and implementing dialogue and reconciliation activities that address key concerns of the people and are oriented not only towards the conflict dynamics in the country, but also to developments in the peace process.2. Support in evaluating and processing the outcomes of dialogue and reconciliation activities in order to use these for additional reconciliation and negotiation processes and incorporate them into the development of policies and reforms.3. Activities aimed at developing the competences, resources and institutional capacity of the Ministry of National Reconciliation and potentially the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission.ResultsSupporting the Ministry of National Reconciliation (since October 2013)Dialogue and reconciliation activities in the different regions of Mali are at the heart of the support provided by the project. Dialogue is a traditional means of restoring balance that is deeply rooted in Malian culture. Working with the Ministry and local partners, the project regularly plans and implements dialogue and reconciliation measures with different target groups. This is seen as a way of re-establishing the peaceful coexistence among the various ethnic groups, which had been undermined by the conflict.Disseminating and explaining the content of the now signed peace agreement is a key task in preparing the ground for the process of national reconciliation. The Ministry is receiving a great deal of support with essential communication tasks with a view to bringing the issues of national reconciliation to as wide an audience as possible via television, radio, internet and print media. In Mali, a country with a rich musical heritage, cultural events such as large-scale concerts may also be an effective way to communicate messages of reconciliation in a positive light.The project is helping establish an information system aimed at pooling and improving the Ministry’s knowledge of the reconciliation process. This will enable it to gain an overview of key developments, stakeholders and approaches. The goal is to help strengthen the Ministry’s overall role at the political level and within the context of the reconciliation process. In addition, the relatively new Ministry for Reconciliation was assisted to a limited extent with the procurement of vehicles, communication materials and office equipment.Supporting the National Commission for Dialogue and Reconciliation (June to September 2013)With support from the project, the Dialogue Commission was able to develop a work plan and undertake missions in all eight regions of Mali, to Kayes, Koulikouro, Sikasso, Ségou, Mopti, Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal. The commissioners also received information on important issues related to the reconciliation process.To help the Commission begin its work, the project assisted in procuring vehicles, communication materials and office equipment. All of the equipment has now been transferred to the General Secretariat of the new Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission, which is set to begin its activities soon following conclusion of the peace agreement.

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