While touring Sahel countries to discuss the repositioning of the development agenda for ongoing or upcoming programs, a delegation from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), led by the Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, which included Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, the United Nations Special Coordinator for Sahel development, was received on Friday, October 27, 2023, by Dr. Choguel Kokalla Maïga, the Prime Minister.

Reiterating their support, the United Nations Special Coordinator for Sahel development strongly emphasized that our country has become a laboratory for regaining our dignity and reinventing African solidarity. Deeply moved by this commendable observation from a UN official, Dr. Choguel Kokalla Maïga enlightened his guests about the paradigm shift happening in Mali, which now holds the fate of Africa. After a thorough historical overview, the Prime Minister, being a true pedagogue, briefed the UN diplomats about the security situation, challenges, and geopolitical and geostatic stakes our country is facing.

Regarding the thorny issue of the Minusma bases, whose recent actions suggest a waning commitment and determination to restore territorial integrity, Choguel Kokalla Maïga assures Malians that nothing has changed; the army is ready and resolved to take over all bases, including Kidal, the epicenter of the crisis.

Finally, he called on UN officials to play their part at this unique juncture in the continent’s history. Our country and Africa need their vision and concrete, pragmatic support, devoid of any paternalism, interference, and meddling.

These are the main highlights of Dr. Choguel K Maïga’s historic statement.

All terrorist movements are creations of the secret services of certain foreign countries, especially Western ones. We have proof of this. We went to the UN, and we wanted to provide evidence, but we were prevented.

Similarly, in Mali, all wars have been imported and imposed from outside. Malians have never instigated any war. To achieve this, weak leaders who accept everything from them are appointed to lead states. They engage in negotiations. Two to three years later, a shaky agreement is reached. These are agreements just to buy time for terrorists to organize.

Everything we experience in Africa, Europeans experienced before. In 1940, England’s Foreign Minister, Chamberlain, went to Germany to sign a peace agreement with the fascists. Upon his return, the entire English population came out to greet and cheer for him, even Queen Elizabeth II.

At the time, there was one man who disagreed, Wilson Churchill. He told Chamberlain: “You have signed a shameful peace with the fascists to avoid war; in the end, you will have both shame and war.”

A few years later, the British were attacked (World War II). The Queen had no choice but to turn to Churchill and make him Prime Minister. He led the war until victory.

But this victory came at the cost of millions of Indian lives. For the British, Churchill was a hero. But in India, he would be seen differently. So, every country has its heroes and criminals. But for us, they decide who are our heroes and criminals.

Another example is the agreement between Russia and Ukraine after 2016. The countries that sponsored it were France and Germany. Regarding this agreement, former Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was signed to allow one party to buy time to prepare its army. So, the agreement was indeed signed to buy time.

In Mali, it’s the same. We were made to sign a Peace Agreement in 2015 to allow the rebellion and terrorism to spread throughout the country and the entire Sahel region. In 2013, when France intervened in Mali, François Hollande, the French President, stated unequivocally in Mali and Qatar: “The objective of Operation Serval is to destroy terrorism, help Mali reclaim its territorial integrity, and implement UN resolutions, 2013.” By 2020, terrorism, which was confined to northern Mali, covered 80% of the territory and began to spread to Ivory Coast, Togo, and Benin. So, what he said was false.

Indeed, regarding territorial integrity, it was the French army that prevented the Malian army from entering Kidal from Anéfis. They created an enclave in northern Mali, especially in Kidal. It was in this enclave that terrorists trained for two years, after which they spread to the center of the country.