Public Participation: Mali The National Pact: a summary

The Pact is 'the framework in which a just and ultimate peace in the North of Mali will be restored and a national reconciliation between all Malians will be achieved'. Furthermore, the Pact is a 'solemn commitment' and the clauses of the agreement between the two parties are irreversible.

However, it is also stated that there is a disagreement between the two parties as to the appellation of the Northern part of Mali. The Government wanted to use the administrative expression'6th, 7th and 8th regions' whereas MFUA insisted on the term 'Azawad' (French: 'Azaouad').

Waiting for the population to decide through the decentralized structures, the parties agreed to use the expression 'North of Mali' in the document.

Chapter 2. On Ultimate Cessation of Hostilities and the Settlement of Problems Caused by the Situation of Armed Conflict

A final ceasefire is to take place at 00.00 hours on the day following the signature of the Pact. In addition the following proceedings are to take place within a period of 60 days after the signature of the document:

(i) total integration, based on individual and voluntary acceptance and on the competence of the combatants of the MFUA, into the various uniformed bodies of the Government, the establishment, for a period of one year, of special units of the armed forces, made up of a majority of integrated combatants of the MFUA,

(ii) the establishment of a local security corps (police, gendarmerie, local guards), made up of all sectors of the local population,

(iii) the establishment of special units of the army, composed mainly of members of all sectors of the local population,

(iv) a considerable, gradual and appropriate reduction of the armed forces in order to obtain withdrawal of the majority of troops,

(v) the establishment of a commission for the ceasefire,

(vi) the starting of a programme of repatriation of displaced persons,

(vii) the establishment of a development- and reinsertion fund well as an indemnisation- and compensation fund for military and civil victims from the two parties signatories to the document,

(viii) the establishment of an independent commission of investigation.

Chapter 3. Particular Status for the North

On the basis of a new system of administrative subdivisions, the populations will organize local and interregional assemblies. These assemblies will in particular be responsible for the organization of affairs in the rural and urban communities. They are to define and promote a programme for economic, social and cultural development, to be responsible, through people selected for this purpose, for the control of forces and of activities connected with maintaining order on the local and regional levels.

A Commissioner for the North of Mali, reporting directly to the Head of State, is to be appointed for a period of five years. The appointment may be renewed. This person will be responsible for the implementation of the National Pact.

Chapter 4. Public Acknowledgment of Solidarity and National Unity in the North of Mali

The following steps have been decided:

(i) to launch a special programme of development in the North of Mali; this programme is to last for 10 years, organized in two consecutive programmes of five years each;

(ii) a particular and exceptional effort from the Government in order to integrate senior members of the MFUA and other persons from the North of Mali into the central high command of the national defence and of other security structures as well as in the public and semi-public administration;

(iii) to set aside four seats in the National Assembly for displaced persons from the North of Mali, in addition to one or two seats for representatives of the Malian population from the North, 'residing abroad'.

Chapter 5. Sub regional Cooperation for Peace and Development

Mention is made of the efforts to be undertaken by the Malian Government towards the sub regional organizations (including the organization of Saharian States), international institutions and friendly countries, in order to obtain the support needed for consolidation of the peace process and for socio- economic progress.

Chapter 6. Schedule of Implementation of Resolutions of the Pact and of National Reconciliation

The schedules decided upon in the proceeding chapters are here summed up in detail from the 24 hours given for the implementation of the ceasefire, to eight months for implementation of the new administrative and municipal subdivision.

Chapter 7. Guarantee for Implementation of the Pact

A commission for follow up and implementation of the Pact is to be set up within 15 days of the signature of the document. The Government and the Coordination of the MFUA will each appoint four members, and the period of function for the commission is to be one year.

Signed in Bamako, April 11, 1992

For the Government of the Republic of Mali

The Minister of the Administration of the Territory in charge of relations with the CTSP and the Associations

COLONEL BREHIMA SIRE TRAORE

For the Coordination of the United Movements and Fronts of Azawad

ZAHABY OULD SIDI MOHAMED

The President of the Transitional Committee for the Welfare of the People

LT-COLONEL AMADOU TOUMANI TOURE

Contract

Concerning the organization of an inter community meeting on reconciliation and consolidation of peace between Kåre LODE, the Norwegian Church Aid's consultant for reconciliation in the Gourma and Mr. Nokh ag Attia, nomad chief and Tuareg notable of the Province of Timbuktu

Article 1. Preliminary conditions 1.1 The two parties have realized that, in the frame of reconciliation, and in order to create a steady climate indispensable for lasting peace in the area indicated below, such a meeting is wanted and decided upon by the civil population involved,

1.2 The two parties have realized that owing to the losses during the long period of insecurity, the population needs financial support to facilitate the physical organization of the meeting,

1.3 After long discussions and after having listened to advice from several resource persons, the two parties agree on the following principles:

- the meeting should not discuss any subject or problem that is beyond its competence,

- the meeting should discuss relevant subject that are results of the period of insecurity, to which immediate and consensual solutions have to be found, in order to permit the communities concerned to start a normal way of life again, a life that is favourable to social and economic development and a lasting civil peace, in particular:

- a common attitude towards reliable information;

- a common attitude against theft and other sorts of banditry;

- the socio-economic reintegration of demobilised combatants in the every day life of their communities;

- the reintegration of returned refugees;

- the disarmament of the civil population;

- a consensual management of economic space and the areas of attach;

- the role of various social groups in the process of restoring and consolidation of peace in the area;

- any other subject of the same nature decided by the participants of the meeting.

1.4 The communities of Binga and Gourma, zone 1, should be represented at the meeting by:

- the notables and traditional chiefs,

- religious authorities

- women

- youth

- old people

1.5 The following groups will be invited as observers:

- the political parties that are represented at Bambara-Maoundé, the place of the meeting;

- the local administration;

- the partners in development (NGOs).

1.6 In order to facilitate the organization of the meeting and to make it possible to make valuable decisions, the number of official participants should not exceed 100 persons.

1.7 The meeting, that should last maximum two days, will take place at Bambara

Maoundé between the 8th and the 15th of October, 1995, both dates included.

1.8 The committee of organization and the presidium should consist of people of good reputation representing all the communities concerned.

1.9 The minutes, signed by the members of the presidium, will be made by the end of the meeting. These minutes should contain the following items:

- the names of the participants and the names of the communities they represent;

- the decisions;

- the people responsible for carrying out the decisions of the meeting.

Article 2. The obligations of the parties

2.1 The NCA's consultant commits himself to pay to Mr. Nokh ag Attia, an amount of FCFA 2.500.000 (3.350 dollars) to be used as follows:

- lodging of participants 1.500.000

- transport and miscellaneous 500.000

- information and motivation 500.000

This amount is the total support from NCA for the inviting, organizing, and carrying through a successful meeting.

2.2 Mr. Nokh ag Attia commits himself to:

- be responsible for the organization and do whatever is possible in order to make sure that the meeting will take place with the:

- dates;

- place;

- representation;

- organization;

- agenda as stated above

- give to the NCA, not later than 10 days after the meeting, the formal required proofs of the expenditures, and in particular:

- the minutes of the meeting;

- indications of the origin of the participants if not stated in the minutes.

2.3 The two parties commit themselves in all their proceedings to work towards a

consolidation of the peace and a social solidarity in order to reach a sustainable development.

2.4 Any disagreement over this contract will be settled between the parties concerned.

Signed in Bamako, September 22, 1995

MR. NOKH AG ATTIA

MR. KÅRE LODE

Witnesses

IBRAHIM AG YOUSSOUF

ZEIDAN AG SIDALAMINE

MAY GOD THE ALL MIGHTY AND ALL MERCIFUL BLESS THE EFFORTS OF HIS HUMBLE SERVANTS. AMEN.

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