Security Council resolution 2531 (2020) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) until 30 June 2021]
Symbol: S/RES/2531 (2020)
Date: 2020-06-29
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/75 [226] UN MULTIDIMENSIONAL INTEGRATED STABILIZATION MISSION IN MALI
S/75 [225] MALI--POLITICAL CONDITIONS
S/ X The situation in Mali.
Subjects: UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali|UN. Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Mali and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali|Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali emanating from the Algiers Process (2015)|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|PEACE AGREEMENTS|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|INTERNAL SECURITY|MALI
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BELGIUM
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
vote: yes
country: ESTONIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GERMANY
vote: yes
country: INDONESIA
vote: yes
country: NIGER
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
vote: yes
country: SOUTH AFRICA
vote: yes
country: TUNISIA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: VIET NAM
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                     S/RES/2531 (2020)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                29 June 2020




               Resolution 2531 (2020)
               Adopted by the Security Council on 29 June 2020

                    The Security Council,
                    Recalling all its previous resolutions, statements of its President and press
               statements on the situation in Mali,
                      Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, unity and territorial
               integrity of Mali, emphasizing that the Malian authorities have primary responsibility
               for the provision of stability, security and protection of civilians throughout the
               territory of Mali, urging the Malian authorities to uphold their efforts to meet their
               obligations in that regard, and expressing great concern at the violent and unilateral
               actions taken by non-State actors hampering the return of State authority and basic
               social services,
                     Reaffirming the basic principles of peacekeeping, including consent of the
               parties, impartiality and non-use of force, except in self-defence and defence of the
               mandate, recognizing that the mandate of each peacekeeping mission is specific to
               the need and situation of the country concerned, and recalling its Presidential
               Statement of 14 May 2018 (S/PRST/2018/10),
                     Expressing grave concern about the continued deterioration of the security and
               humanitarian situation in Mali, including through the persistence of a high level of
               attacks by terrorist groups in the North and in the Centre, and the continuation of
               intercommunal violence in the Centre, which led to human rights violations and
               abuses and have caused the loss of numerous innocent lives as well as numerous
               internally displaced persons and refugees in neighbouring countries, people in critical
               need of assistance and children without access to education due to school closures,
               and have hindered humanitarian access, expressing concern over the impact of the
               COVID-19 pandemic and the significant ongoing food crisis in Mali, and further
               expressing deep concern that the situation in Mali negatively impacts that of
               neighbouring countries and of the Sahel region,
                    Emphasizing that security and stability in Mali are inextricably linked to that of
               the Sahel and West Africa, as well as to that of Libya and North Africa,
                     Strongly condemning the continued attacks against civilians, representatives
               from local, regional and State institutions, as well as national, international and UN
               security forces, including the Malian Defence and Security Forces (MDSF), the G5
               Sahel joint force (FC-G5S), the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated
               Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), the French forces and the European




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               Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali), paying tribute to the bravery and
               sacrifices made by the soldiers engaged in Mali and the Sahel, especially to those who
               lost their lives, and calling for continuing support to the MDSF in their fight against
               terrorism,
                    Underlining that lasting peace and security in the Sahel region will not be
               achieved without a combination of political, security and development efforts
               benefitting all regions of Mali, as well as the full, effective and inclusive
               implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali (“the
               Agreement”), which involves all Malian actors supportive of the peace process and
               ensures full, effective and meaningful participation of women and youth,
                     Recognizing that an integrated and coherent approach among relevant political,
               security and developmental actors, within and outside of the United Nations system,
               consistent with their respective mandates, is critical to building and sustaining peace
               in Mali and the Sahel, and recalling the objectives of the United Nations Integrated
               Strategy for the Sahel,
                      Welcoming the Pau Summit of 13 January 2020 and the creation of a “Coalition
               for the Sahel”, aimed at fighting against terrorism, strengthening the Sahelian States’
               military capabilities, supporting the restoration of State authority throughout the
               territory, and bolstering development assistance, further welcoming the set-up of the
               Takuba Task Force, and of the Partnership for Security and Stability in the Sahel, as
               well as increased engagement from the African Union and the Economic Community
               of West African States, and welcoming, in this regard, the initiative to deploy an
               African Union-led force in the Sahel,
                     Recognizing that some progress was made during the past six months in the
               implementation of the Agreement, and that a combination of some level of political
               will and international pressure, including through the prospect of sanctions,
               constituted important factors in securing this progress and underlining that
               MINUSMA, along with the other security presences mentioned in resolution 2480
               (2019), significantly contributes to the implementation of the Agreement and to the
               stabilization of Mali,
                     Expressing a significant sense of impatience with parties over the persistent
               delays in the full implementation of key provisions of the Agreement, noting that
               protracted delays in implementation contribute to a political and security vacuum
               jeopardizing the stability and development of Mali as well as the viability of the
               Agreement, and stressing the need for increased ownership and prioritization in the
               implementation of the Agreement,
                     Underlining that engaging in hostilities in violation of the Agreement as well as
               actions taken that obstruct, or that obstruct by prolonged delay, or that threaten the
               implementation of the Agreement constitute a basis for sanctions designations
               pursuant to resolution 2374 (2017), among other designation criteria,
                     Noting the Stratégie de stabilisation du centre du Mali by the Malian authorities
               as well as other initiatives aimed at addressing the situation in Central Mali, and
               stressing that stabilization of the situation there requires the Malian authorities and
               relevant stakeholders to implement this strategy by pursuing simultaneous progress
               on security, governance, development, reconciliation, accountability, as well as
               protection and promotion of human rights,
                     Welcoming the holding of the national inclusive dialogue which was a
               significant step in building consensus on key political and institutional reforms, and
               further welcoming the increased representation of women in the National Assembly,



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                 Strongly condemning all violations and abuses of international human rights law
           and violations of international humanitarian law, including those involving
           extrajudicial and summary executions, arbitrary arrests and detentions and ill -
           treatment of prisoners, sexual and gender-based violence, and trafficking in persons,
           as well as killing, maiming, recruitment and use of children, attacks against schools,
           humanitarian actors and services, and medical personnel and infrastructure identified
           as such, and calling upon all parties to bring an end to such violations and abuses and
           to comply with their obligations under applicable international law,
                 Reiterating, in this regard, the importance of holding accountable all those
           responsible for such acts and that some of such acts referred to in the paragraph above
           may amount to crimes under the Rome Statute, taking note that, acting upon the
           referral of the transitional authorities of Mali dated 13 July 2012, the Prosecutor of
           the International Criminal Court (ICC) opened on 16 January 2013 an i nvestigation
           into alleged crimes committed on the territory of Mali since January 2012, and further
           taking note of the finalization of the work of the International Commission of Inquiry
           established in accordance with the Agreement and as requested by reso lution 2364
           (2017),
                 Emphasizing the need for adequate risk assessment and risk management
           strategies, by the Government of Mali and the United Nations, of ecological changes,
           natural disasters, drought, desertification, land degradation, food insecurity, energy
           access, climate change, among other factors, on the security and stability of Mali,
                 Commending troop- and police-contributing countries of MINUSMA for their
           contribution, paying tribute to the peacekeepers who risk, as well as lost, their lives
           in this respect,
                 Welcoming MINUSMA’s efforts to implement its adaptation plan, with a view
           to integrating all mission components and increasing its protected mobility, agility
           and flexibility, and therefore improving its support to the implementation of the
           Agreement, to the stabilization and restoration of State authority in the Centre and
           enhancing protection of civilians, notably by setting -up a Mobile Task Force,
                 Expressing concern over reports of some training and capabilities shortfalls of
           MINUSMA units, undeclared caveats, non-compliance with orders, and emphasizing
           the importance of transparency and accountability of the mission’s performance,
                 Recognizing that, in light of the specific and challenging environment in which
           it is deployed, MINUSMA interacts with other security presences which have the
           potential to be mutually beneficial instruments to restore peace and stability in Mali
           and the Sahel region,
                 Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General (S/2020/476) and the letter
           of the Secretary-General (S/2020/481),
                 Determining that the situation in Mali continues to constitute a threat to
           international peace and security,
                Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

           Implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali
                1.   Urges the Government of Mali and the Plateforme and Coordination
           armed groups (“the Malian parties”) to continue to accelerate the implementation of
           the Agreement, through significant, meaningful and irreversible measures to be taken
           on an urgent basis;
                 2.   Welcomes the important steps taken in the fulfilment of some of the
           priority measures of the Agreement referenced in paragraph 4 of resolution 2480

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               (2019) but regrets that several of them have not been fully implemented, and recalls
               its readiness to respond with measures pursuant to resolution 2374 (2017) should the
               parties engage in hostilities in violation of the Agreement, take actions that obstruct,
               or that obstruct by prolonged delay, or that threaten the implementation of the
               Agreement;
                    3.   Urges the Malian parties to take immediate and concrete action, in a spirit
               of genuine cooperation, to fulfil the following priority measures before the end of
               MINUSMA’s current mandate:
                    – achieve significant results towards the completion of the disarmament,
                      demobilization and reintegration of the signatory armed groups and in the
                      operationalization of the reconstituted, reformed and inclusive MDSF, notably
                      by vetting, integrating in the MDSF and training at least 2,000 members of the
                      signatory armed groups, in addition to the already integrated ones, redeploying
                      all the integrated elements who underwent the accelerated disarmament,
                      demobilization and reintegration process to the North following appropriate
                      consultations between Malian parties with regards to the composition of the
                      reconstituted units, and entrusting these units with concrete tasks, such as
                      patrols,
                    – ensure the completion of the constitutional reform, in accordance with the
                      conclusions of the national inclusive dialogue, and of institutional reforms
                      envisioned by the Agreement, in particular: (i) resolve outstanding issues for the
                      holding of the election of Regional Assemblies, Cercle Councils and Commune
                      Councils by direct universal suffrage, (ii) create a second parliamentary
                      chamber, (iii) set-up a timeline for the transfer of decentralized State services
                      and 30 per cent of State revenues to local authorities in their areas of competence
                      and complete this transfer, (iv) complete the legal framework for the regional
                      territorial police force and start its effective recruitment which should comprise
                      a significant number of former members of the signatory armed groups, and
                      (v) fully establish newly created electoral districts, including Ménaka and
                      Taoudenni as regions, and the proposed Cercles and Communes, and hold
                      legislative elections in these areas,
                    – continue the operationalization of the Northern Development Zone through the
                      establishment of the interregional advisory council and capacity building
                      initiatives and engagement with diverse groups, and implement a pilot project
                      in each of the five regions of Northern Mali, following appropriate
                      consultations, with a view to swiftly delivering peace dividends to the
                      population, and to further prioritize other interventions of the Sustainable
                      Development Fund,
                    – implement the recommendations of the high-level workshop on participation of
                      women in the mechanisms established by the Agreement to support and monitor
                      its implementation, by increasing the representation of women in the Comité de
                      suivi de l’Accord (CSA) and the subcommittees, setting-up a steering committee
                      of the workshop’s recommendations, as well as an observatory led by women
                      with a clear mandate and mechanism to oversee progress towards women’s full,
                      effective and meaningful participation;
                      4.    Calls upon all parties in Mali to ensure full, effective and meaningful
               participation of women in the mechanisms established by the Agreement to support
               and monitor its implementation, using the appropriate framework, including through
               greater representation of women in the CSA, meeting the 30 per cent quota for women
               in all political functions and offices as defined in Mali’s legislation, and completion
               of Agreement-related targets laid out in Mali’s third national plan for the


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           implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), and requests the Secretary-General to pay
           specific attention to these points in its regular reporting on MINUSMA;
                 5.    Encourages the panel of experts established pursuant to resolution 2374
           (2017) to identify parties responsible for potential lack of implementation of the
           priority measures referenced in paragraph 3 through its regular reporting and interim
           updates, expresses its intent, should these priority measures not be implemented by
           the end of MINUSMA’s current mandate, to respond with measures pursuant to
           resolution 2374 (2017) on individuals and entities who are thus obstructing or
           threatening the implementation of the Agreement, and stresses that individuals or
           entities placed on the 2374 sanctions list shall not benefit from any financial,
           operational or logistical support from United Nations entities deployed in Mali, until
           their removal from the list and without prejudice to the exemptions set by paragraphs
           2, 5, 6 and 7 of resolution 2374 (2017), welcomes the measures already taken by
           United Nations entities deployed in Mali to ensure these individuals or entities do not
           benefit from such support, and requests the Secretary-General to include in his first
           quarterly report following the adoption of this mandate an update on these measures;
                 6.    Calls upon all parties in Mali to strictly abide by the arrangements in place
           for a cessation of hostilities, and demands that all armed groups reject violence, cut
           off all ties with terrorist organizations and transnational organized crime, take
           concrete steps to prevent human rights abuses against civilians, put an end to
           recruitment and use of child soldiers, cease any activities hampering the return of
           State authority and basic social services, and recognize without conditions the unity
           and territorial integrity of the Malian State within the framework of the Agreement;
                  7.   Urges all parties in Mali to cooperate fully with the Special Representative
           of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and MINUSMA in the implementation of the
           Agreement, as well as to ensure the safety, security and freedom of movement of
           MINUSMA’s personnel with unhindered and immediate access throughout the
           territory of Mali;
                 8.   Calls for the inclusion within national and regional strategies of programs
           to address the stigma of sexual and gender-based violence, bring justice to victims
           and survivors, and support their reintegration into their communities, and further calls
           for the views of the victims and survivors to be taken into ac count in the design,
           establishment, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of these programs;
                 9.    Urges more structured exchanges between the Malian parties between
           sessions of the CSA, acknowledges the role of the CSA to reconcile disagreements
           between the Malian parties, recalls the provisions of the Pact for Peace signed on
           15 October 2018 between the Government of Mali and the United Nations
           recognizing the enforceability of the decisions and arbitrations of the international
           mediation team in case of divergence in the implementation of the Agreement, and
           calls on the members of the CSA and other relevant international partners, to increase
           their engagement in support to the implementation of the Agreement in coordination
           with the SRSG and MINUSMA;
                 10. Calls upon the Independent Observer to continue to make public,
           including through presentation to the CSA, regular reports containing concrete
           recommendations on steps to be taken by all parties to accelerate the full, effective
           and inclusive implementation of the Agreement, and further calls upon all parties to
           fully cooperate with the Carter Center in order to facilitate the implementation of its
           mandate as Independent Observer;
                 11. Calls upon the Malian parties to follow-up on the recommendations of the
           International Commission of Inquiry once they are conveyed;



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                    12. Encourages all relevant United Nations agencies, as well as bilateral,
               regional and multilateral partners to provide the necessary support to contribute to
               the implementation of the Agreement by the Malian parties, in particular its
               provisions pertaining to sustainable development;

               Situation in Central Mali
                     13. Urges the Malian authorities to take expedited action to protect civilians,
               reduce intercommunal violence and restore peaceful relations between communities
               in Central Mali through the Cadre politique de gestion de la crise au centre du Mali
               and the full and effective implementation of the Stratégie de stabilisation du centre
               du Mali in an integrated, comprehensive and politically-led manner, further urges
               Malian authorities to disarm without delay all militias, and encourages the
               intensification of reconciliation initiatives with a view to prevent the continuation and
               recurrence of inter-communal violence, and promote peaceful co-existence amongst
               the communities;
                    14. Urges the Malian authorities to fulfil the following priority measures
               before the end of MINUSMA’s current mandate:
                    – re-establish State presence and State authority to Central Mali, by deploying and
                      making fully operational internal security forces (police, gendarmerie, garde
                      nationale), judicial entities and basic social services, ensuring their
                      responsiveness and accountability, and setting-up concrete steps and a system
                      to monitor progress in this regard,
                    – fight against impunity for violations and abuses of international human rights
                      law and violations of international humanitarian law in Central Mali, by bringing
                      to justice the individuals accused of perpetrating the massacres that killed
                      hundreds of civilians in 2019 and 2020 and by holding the corresponding trials;
                     15. Encourages the Malian authorities, with the help of their partners, to
               continue pursuing sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development in Central
               Mali, notably through development projects on education, infrastructures, and public
               health, with a special attention to youth;

               MINUSMA’s mandate
               General principles
                     16.   Decides to extend the mandate of MINUSMA until 30 June 2021;
                    17. Decides that MINUSMA shall continue to comprise up to 13,289 military
               personnel and 1,920 police personnel;
                     18.   Authorizes MINUSMA to use all necessary means to carry out its mandate;
                     19. Decides that the primary strategic priority of MINUSMA remains to support
               the implementation of the Agreement by the Malian parties, as well as by other relevant
               Malian stakeholders, and further decides that the second strategic priority of
               MINUSMA is to facilitate the implementation by Malian actors of the Stratégie de
               stabilisation du centre du Mali, in a comprehensive and politically-led manner, with a
               view to protect civilians, reduce intercommunal violence, and re -establish State
               authority, State presence and basic social services in Central Mali, through the
               implementation of its mandated tasks;
                     20. Stresses that MINUSMA’s mandate should be implemented based on a
               prioritization of tasks established in paragraphs 19 above and 28 and 29 below,
               requests the Secretary-General to reflect this prioritization in the deployment of the
               mission and to align budgetary resources accordingly, while ensuring appropriate


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           resources for the implementation of the mandate, affirms, in this regard, that the
           support to the implementation of the Agreement should be given priority in decisions
           about the use of available capacity and resources, that the SRSG, in consultation with
           the Force Commander and the Police Commissioner should be given sufficient
           flexibility to deploy MINUSMA contingents between sectors to rapidly respond, in
           line with MINUSMA’s mandate, to the dynamic security situation in both North and
           Central Mali, and that the SRSG, in consultation with the Force Commander, should
           ensure that sufficient mission resources are allocated to the implementation of the
           second strategic priority;
                21. Requests MINUSMA to continue to carry out its mandate with a proactive,
           robust, flexible and agile posture;
                22. Requests MINUSMA to ensure the safety, security and freedom of
           movement of United Nations and associated personnel, to protect installations and
           equipment, and, in this context, to periodically review all safety and security
           measures;
                23. Expresses its full support to the continuation of the implementation of
           MINUSMA’s adaptation plan, and encourages Member states to contribute to the plan
           by providing the capabilities needed for its success, particularly air assets;
                 24. Encourages the Secretary-General to keep under continuous update the
           integrated strategic framework setting the United Nations’ overall vision, joint
           priorities and internal division of labour to sustain peace in Mali, including enhanced
           coordination with donors, requests the Secretary-General to ensure an efficient
           division of tasks and complementarity of efforts between MINUSMA, its Trust Fund
           and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), based on their mandates and
           comparative advantages as well as to continuously adjust their deployment according
           to the progress made in the implementation of MINUSMA’s mandate, while stressing
           the importance of adequate resources for the UNCT, underscores the critical nature
           of enhanced UNCT presence and activity in the Northern and Central regions of Mali,
           and calls on Member States and relevant organizations to consider providing the
           necessary voluntary funding to this end;
                25. Encourages MINUSMA to pursue its efforts to improve coordination
           between its civil, military and police components, by reinforcing its integrated
           approach to operational planning and intelligence as well as through intra-mission
           dedicated coordination mechanisms;
                 26. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure close coordination
           and information sharing, where appropriate, between MINUSMA, the United Nations
           Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), sub-regional organizations,
           including ECOWAS and the G5 Sahel, as well as Member States in the region;
                27. Requests MINUSMA to improve its communication efforts to raise
           awareness on its mandate and its role, as well as to underscore the r ole and
           responsibilities of the Malian authorities to protect civilians and implement the
           Agreement;

           Priority tasks
                 28.   Decides that MINUSMA’s mandate shall include the following priority
           tasks:
               (a) Support to the implementation of the Agreement on P eace and
           Reconciliation in Mali
                (i) to use the SRSG’s good offices to encourage and support the full
                implementation of the Agreement, notably by heading the Secretariat of the CSA

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                    as well as by playing a central role to assist the Malian parties in identifying and
                    prioritizing steps in this implementation;
                    (ii) To support the implementation of the political and institutional reforms
                    provided by the Agreement, especially in its Part II, notably to support the
                    Government’s efforts for the effective restoration and extension of State
                    authority and rule of law throughout the territory, including through supporting
                    the effective functioning of interim administrations in the North of Mali under
                    the conditions set out in the Agreement;
                    (iii) To support the implementation of the defence and security measures of the
                    Agreement, especially its Part III and Annex 2, notably:
                      – to support, monitor and supervise the ceasefire, including through the
                        continued implementation of control measures on movement and
                        armament of signatory armed groups, including in designated weapon -free
                        areas, and to report to the Security Council on violations of it,
                      – to support the cantonment, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration
                        of armed groups, including through the integration of elements of the
                        signatory armed groups in the MDSF as an interim measure, and the
                        continued implementation of a community violence reduction program,
                        within the framework of an inclusive and consensual reform of the security
                        sector, taking into account the particular needs of women and children, and
                        persons belonging to marginalised groups such as people with disabilities,
                        and without prejudice to the anticipated plans of the demobilization,
                        disarmament and reintegration and integration commissi ons,
                      – to support the establishment by all relevant Malian parties of a
                        comprehensive plan for the redeployment of the reformed and
                        reconstituted MDSF in the North of Mali, including with a view to them
                        assuming responsibility for security, and to support such redeployment
                        including through operational, logistical and transportation support during
                        coordinated and joint operations, planning, strengthened information
                        sharing, and medical evacuation, within existing resources, without
                        prejudice to the basic principles of peacekeeping,
                      – to ensure coherence of international efforts, in close collaboration with
                        other bilateral partners, donors and international organizations, including
                        the European Union, engaged in these fields, to rebuild the Malian security
                        sector, within the framework set out by the Agreement;
                    (iv) To support the implementation of the reconciliation and justice measures
                    of the Agreement, especially in its Part V, including to support the operations of
                    the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission and the follow-up of the
                    recommendations of the International Commission of Inquiry, and to help
                    ensuring the effectiveness of justice and corrections officials as well as Malian
                    judicial institutions, particularly regarding the detention, invest igation and
                    prosecution of individuals suspected of, and sentencing of those found
                    responsible for terrorism-related crimes, mass atrocities and transnational
                    organized crime activities (including trafficking in persons, arms, drugs and
                    natural resources, and the smuggling of migrants);
                    (v) To encourage and support the full implementation of the Agreement by the
                    Malian parties, and all relevant non-signatory actors, including by promoting
                    the meaningful participation of civil society, including women’s org anizations,
                    women peacebuilders, and youth organizations and youth peacebuilders, and
                    helping the Government of Mali to raise awareness on the content and the
                    objectives of the Agreement;

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           (b)   Support to stabilization and restoration of State authority in the Centre
           (i) To support Malian authorities in fully and effectively implementing the
           Stratégie de stabilisation du centre du Mali and meeting the priority measures
           set-out in paragraph 14 above;
           (ii) To facilitate the return of State presence, State au thority and basic social
           services in the Centre, and to support the redeployment of the MDSF there,
           including through continued operational, logistical and transportation support
           during coordinated and joint operations, planning, strengthened information
           sharing and medical evacuation, within existing resources, without prejudice to
           the basic principles of peacekeeping;
           (iii) To support Malian authorities in ensuring that those responsible for
           violations and abuses of human rights and violations of interna tional
           humanitarian law are held accountable and brought to justice without delay;
           (c)   Protection of civilians
           (i) To protect, without prejudice to the primary responsibility of the Malian
           authorities, civilians under threat of physical violence;
           (ii) In support of the Malian authorities, to take active steps to anticipate, deter
           and effectively respond to threats to the civilian population, notably in the North
           and Center of Mali, through a comprehensive and integrated approach, and, in
           this regard:
             – to strengthen early warning mechanisms and systematically record and
               analyse MINUSMA’s rate of response,
             – to strengthen community engagement and protection mechanisms,
               including interaction with civilians, community outreach, reconciliation,
               mediation, support to the resolution of local and intercommunal conflicts
               and public information,
             – to take mobile, flexible, robust and proactive steps to protect civilians,
               including through the set-up of a Mobile Task Force, prioritizing the
               deployment of ground and air assets, as available, in areas where civilians
               are most at risk, while expecting Malian authorities to assume their
               responsibilities in the respective areas,
             – to mitigate the risk to civilians before, during and after any military or
               police operation, including by tracking, preventing, minimizing, and
               addressing civilian harm resulting from the mission’s operations,
             – to prevent the return of active armed elements to key population centres
               and other areas where civilians are at risk, engaging in direct operations
               pursuant only to serious and credible threats;
           (iii) To provide specific protection and assistance for women and children
           affected by armed conflict, including through Protection Advisors, Child
           Protection Advisors, Women Protection Advisors and civilian and uniformed
           Gender Advisors and focal points, as well as consultations with women’s
           organizations, and address the needs of victims and survivors of sexual and
           gender-based violence in armed conflict;
           (d)   Good offices and reconciliation
           (i) To exercise good offices, confidence-building and facilitation at the
           national and local levels, in order to support dialogue with and among all
           stakeholders towards reconciliation and social cohesion;


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                    (ii) To support efforts to reduce intercommunal tensions, bearing in mind the
                    primary responsibility of the Malian authorities;
                    (iii) To support the holding of inclusive, free, fair, transparent and credible
                    elections, conducted in a peaceful environment, including regional, local and
                    legislative by-elections, as needed, and, as appropriate, of a constitutional
                    referendum, including through the provision of technical assistance and security
                    arrangements, consistent with the provisions of the Agreement;
                    (e)   Promotion and protection of human rights
                    (i) To assist the Malian authorities in their efforts to promote and protect
                    human rights, in particular in the areas of justice and reconciliation, including
                    to support, as feasible and appropriate, the efforts of the Malian authorities,
                    without prejudice to their responsibilities, to bring to justice without undue
                    delay those responsible for serious violations or abuses of human rights or
                    violations of international humanitarian law, in particular war crimes and crimes
                    against humanity in Mali, taking into account the referral by the transitional
                    authorities of Mali of the situation in their country since January 2012 to the
                    ICC;
                    (ii) To improve efforts to monitor, document, conduct fact -finding missions,
                    help investigate and report publicly and regularly to the Security Council, on
                    violations of international humanitarian law and on violations and abuses of
                    human rights, including all forms of sexual and gender-based violence,
                    trafficking in persons, and violations and abuses committed against women and
                    children throughout Mali and to contribute to efforts to prevent such violations
                    and abuses including by liaising with relevant partners, as appropriate;
                    (f)   Humanitarian assistance
                          In support of the Malian authorities, to contribute to the creation of a
                    secure environment for the safe civilian-led delivery of humanitarian assistance,
                    consistent with humanitarian principles, and the voluntary, safe and dignified
                    return, local integration or resettlement of internally displaced persons and
                    refugees in close coordination with humanitarian actors, including relevant UN
                    agencies;

               Other tasks
                     29. Further authorizes MINUSMA, without impeding on its capacity to
               implement its priority tasks, to use its existing capacities to assist in implementing
               the following other tasks in a streamlined and sequenced manner, bearing in mind that
               priority and secondary tasks are mutually reinforcing:
                    (a)   Quick impact projects
                     To contribute to the creation of a secure environment for quick impact projects
               in direct support to the implementation of the Agreement in the North or in response
               to specific needs in the Centre on the basis of strong conflict analysis;
                    (b)   Cooperation with Sanctions Committees
                    To assist and exchange information with the Sanctions Committee and the P anel
               of experts established by resolution 2374 (2017) and to ensure that its activities in
               Mali are consistent with efforts to promote the implementation of the sanctions
               measures set forth in this resolution;
                     To assist the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee
               and the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team established by resolution


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           1526 (2004), including by passing information relevant to the implementation of the
           measures in paragraph 1 of resolution 2368 (2017);

           Other security presences in Mali and the Sahel region
                 30. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure adequate coordination, exchange
           of information and, when applicable, support, within their respective mandates and
           through existing mechanisms, between MINUSMA, the MDSF, the FC -G5S, the
           French Forces and the European Union missions in Mali, and further requests
           MINUSMA to convene regular meetings of the Instance de Coordination au Mali as
           the main platform for such coordination, exchange of information and support;
                 31. Stresses that security responses to the threats faced by Mali can only be
           effective if conducted in full compliance with international law, and while taking
           feasible precautions to minimize the risk of harm to civilians in all areas of operations,
           requests MINUSMA to ensure that any of its support to other security presences
           mentioned in paragraph 30 above is provided in strict compliance with the Human
           Rights Due Diligence Policy on United Nations support to non -United Nations
           security forces (HRDDP) and calls upon all non-United Nations security forces in
           receipt of such support to continue cooperating with the United Nations and the
           relevant monitoring and reporting mechanisms in implementing the HRDDP;

           Malian Defence and Security Forces
                32. Urges MINUSMA and the Government of Mali to redouble their efforts
           towards ensuring a swift, full and effective implementation of the Memorandum of
           Understanding on support to the redeployment of MDSF;
                 33. Encourages bilateral and multilateral partners to continue their support to
           accelerate the redeployment of the MDSF to the Centre and, once reformed and
           reconstituted, to the North of Mali, particularly by providing relevant equipment and
           training, in coordination with the Government of Mali and MINUSMA and w ithin the
           framework of the Agreement;
                 34. Expresses serious concerns about repeated allegations of violations of
           international human rights law and international humanitarian law by MDSF in the
           conduct of counterterrorism operations, takes positive note of the measures
           announced by the Government of Mali in response to these allegations, and urges the
           Government of Mali to effectively implement these measures, notably by carrying out
           transparent, credible and timely investigations and holding accountable t hose
           responsible, especially as it relates to the allegations documented by the MINUSMA
           Human Rights Division;
                35. Calls upon the Government of Mali to implement all recommendations
           made by MINUSMA in the framework of the HRDDP, and encourages international
           partners to insist on respect for international human rights law, international
           humanitarian law and accountability as a necessary condition when partnering with
           the MDSF or other armed actors;

           Force conjointe du G5 Sahel
                 36. Welcomes the increased autonomy of the G5 Sahel Executive Secretariat
           (“the Executive Secretariat”) and of the FC-G5S as steps towards self-sufficiency,
           encourages G5 Sahel States to ensure that the FC-G5S continues to scale up its level
           of operation in order to demonstrate increased tangible operational results, underlines
           the importance of progress in the operationalization of the G5 Sahel police component
           and encourages support to this component, including through the training of its
           Specialized Investigative Units;

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                     37. Stresses that operational and logistical support from MINUSMA, as per
               the conditions set by resolution 2391 (2017), is a temporary measure which has the
               potential to allow the FC-G5S, given its current level of capacities, to enhance its
               ability to deliver on its mandate, and calls on the FC-G5S to continue developing its
               own capacity to support itself;
                      38. Recalls all provisions of paragraph 13 of resolution 2391, takes note of the
               options presented in the report of the Secretary-General (S/2020/476), expresses its
               support for the use of life support consumables provided by MINUSMA to the
               FC-G5S based both on resolution 2391 and on the technical agreement between the
               United Nations, the European Union and the G5 Sahel (“the technical agreement”) by
               all G5 Sahel contingents operating in the framework of the FC-G5S under the
               conditions that the FC-G5S or other entities, including private companies, which
               MINUSMA or other United Nations organs may engage, consulting with the
               Executive Secretariat on the selection process and paying attention to the local
               content, in accordance with UN procurement rules and guiding principles, undertake
               the responsibility of ensuring their delivery to locations agreed by the FC -G5S and
               MINUSMA when outside of Malian territory, that provision of support is unde rtaken
               in strict compliance with the HRDDP, and that MINUSMA’s support to the FC -G5S,
               as per the conditions set out in resolution 2391, in the technical agreement and in the
               delegation agreement signed between the European Union and the United Nations,
               continues to be subject to full financial reimbursement to the United Nations through
               an European Union-coordinated financing mechanism and without affecting
               MINUSMA’s capacity to implement its mandate and strategic priorities, recalls the
               reporting obligations set by paragraph 33 (iii) of resolution 2391, further requests the
               Secretary-General to include in its April 2021 report on the G5 Sahel an ass essment
               of the implementation of paragraph 13 of resolution 2391, including on the HRDDP
               and on the prospects of the Executive Secretariat and the FC-G5S improving their
               autonomy and setting-up their own procurement system, and expresses its intent, on
               this basis, to take a decision on the future of the mechanism set by paragraph 13 of
               resolution 2391 at the end of MINUSMA’s current mandate;
                      39. Requests the Secretary-General to enhance exchange of information
               between MINUSMA and the G5 Sahel States, through provision of relevant
               intelligence;
                     40. Recalls that adherence to the compliance framework referred to in
               resolution 2391 (2017) is essential in ensuring the required trust among the
               populations, and thus the effectiveness and legitimacy of the FC -G5S;

               French forces
                     41. Authorizes French forces, within the limits of their capacities and areas of
               deployment, to use all necessary means until the end of MINUSMA’s mandate as
               authorized in this resolution, to intervene in support of elements of MINUSMA when
               under imminent and serious threat upon request of the Secretary-General, and
               requests France to report to the Council on the implementation of this mandate in
               Mali and to coordinate its reporting with the reporting by the Secretary -General
               referred to in paragraph 62 below;

               European Union contribution
                     42. Encourages the European Union, notably its Special Representative for
               the Sahel and its EUTM Mali and EUCAP Sahel Mali missions, to continue its efforts
               to support Malian authorities in Security Sector Reform and reestablishment of State
               authority and presence throughout the Malian territory, further encourages close
               coordination of these efforts with MINUSMA, and requests the Secretary-General to


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           enhance cooperation between MINUSMA and EUTM Mali and EUCAP Sahel
           missions, including by developing further complementarity between the missions and
           by exploring modalities for potential mutual support;

           Capacities of MINUSMA, safety and security of MINUSMA’s personnel
                43. Stresses the importance to provide MINUSMA with the necessary
           performance capacities to fulfill its mandate in a complex security environment that
           includes asymmetric threats while ensuring the best possible level of safety and
           security for its personnel;
                44. Urges Member States to provide troops and police that have adequate
           capabilities, including regarding language skills, predeployment and, where
           appropriate, in situ training, and equipment, including enablers, specific to the
           operating environment, notes the potential adverse effects on mandate
           implementation of national caveats which have not been declared and accepted by the
           Secretary General prior to deployment, and calls on Members State to declare all
           national caveats, provide troops and police with the m inimum of declared caveats,
           and to fully and effectively implement the provisions of the Memoranda of
           Understanding (MoU) signed with the United Nations;
                45. Requests the Secretary-General to seek to increase the number of women
           in MINUSMA, as well as to ensure the full, effective and meaningful participation of
           women in all aspects of operations;
                46. Strongly condemns attacks against peacekeepers and other United Nations
           and associated personnel, underlines that these attacks may constitute war crimes
           under international law, stresses that those responsible for these acts should be held
           accountable, calls on the Government of Mali to swiftly investigate and bring the
           perpetrators to justice, with a view to prevent impunity from encouraging future
           violence against peacekeepers, calls upon MINUSMA to provide support to the
           Government of Mali to this end, further stresses the importance of MINUSMA having
           the necessary capacities to promote the safety and security of the United Nations
           peacekeepers, requests the Secretary-General to regularly include in its reports
           information on the efforts of Mali in that regard, and further requests the Secretary-General to ensure troop contributing countries receive sufficient information relevant
           to up-to-date tactics, techniques, and procedures in reducing troop casualties in an
           asymmetric environment before deploying to Mali;
                 47. Requests the Secretary-General, Member States, and the Government of
           Mali to continue to take all appropriate measures to review and enhance t he safety
           and security of MINUSMA’s personnel, in line with resolution 2518 (2020), and the
           action plan developed by MINUSMA in this regard, including through:
              – improving MINUSMA’s intelligence and analysis capacities, including
                surveillance and monitoring capacities, within the limits of its mandate,
              – providing training, knowledge and equipment to counter explosive devices,
                including enhanced support to troop and police contributing countries to d eploy
                the environment specific mine-protected vehicles needed under the current
                Force requirements,
              – improving logistics in mission, in particular by taking all necessary measures to
                secure MINUSMA’s logistical supply routes, including through the conti nued
                deployment of combat convoy battalions and the use of modern technology such
                as multiple sensors, intelligence fusion and unmanned aerial systems, as well as
                by exploring potential alternative logistical supply routes,



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                    – enhancing camps protection, including through the urgent deployment of
                      indirect fire attack early warning devices, such as ground alert radars, on
                      premises not yet equipped,
                    – implementing more effective casualty and medical evacuation procedures,
                      including the Standard Operating Procedure on Decentralized Casualty
                      Evacuation, as well as deploying enhanced medical evacuation capacities,
                    – taking active and effective measures to improve the planning and functioning of
                      MINUSMA’s safety and security facilities and arrangements,
                    – securing long-term rotation schemes for critical capabilities as well as exploring
                      innovative options to promote partnerships between equipment, troop - and
                      police-contributing countries;
                     48. Recognizes that the effective implementation of peacekeeping mand ates is
               the responsibility of all stakeholders and is contingent upon several critical factors,
               including well-defined, realistic, and achievable mandates, political will, leadership,
               performance and accountability at all levels, adequate resources, policy, planning, and
               operational guidelines, and training and equipment;
                     49. Welcomes the initiatives undertaken by the Secretary-General to
               standardize a culture of performance in UN peacekeeping, recalls its requests in
               resolution 2378 (2017) and resolution 2436 (2018) that the Secretary-General ensures
               that performance data related to the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations is used
               to improve mission operations, including decisions such as those regarding
               deployment, remediation, repatriation and incentives, reaffirms its support for the
               development of a comprehensive and integrated performance policy framework that
               identifies clear standards of performance for evaluating all United Nations civilian
               and uniformed personnel working in and supporting peacekeeping operations that
               facilitates effective and full implementation of mandates, and includes comprehensive
               and objective methodologies based on clear and well-defined benchmarks to ensure
               accountability for underperformance and incentives and recognition for outstanding
               performance, and calls on him to apply it to MINUSMA, in particular by investigating
               and taking action on underperformance, to include the rotation, repatriation,
               replacement or dismissal of any under-performing MINUSMA uniformed or civilian
               personnel, consistent with resolution 2436 (2018), and notes the efforts of the
               Secretary-General to develop a comprehensive performance assessment system;
                     50. Calls upon Member States, especially those in the region, to ensure the
               free, unhindered and expeditious movement to and from Mali of all personnel, as wel l
               as equipment, provisions, supplies and other goods, which are for the exclusive and
               official use of MINUSMA, in order to facilitate the timely and cost-effective delivery
               of the logistical supply of MINUSMA;

               Obligations under international law, human rights law and related aspects
                     51. Urges the Malian authorities to ensure that all those responsible for crimes
               involving violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international
               humanitarian law, including those involving sexual and gender based violence, and
               human trafficking, are held accountable and brought to justice without undue delay,
               and that all victims and survivors of sexual violence in conflict and post -conflict
               situations have access to justice, and notes, in this regard, the Malian authorities’
               continued cooperation with the ICC, in accordance with Mali’s obligations under the
               Rome Statute, in matters that are within its jurisdiction;
                    52. Urges all parties to comply with obligations under international
               humanitarian law to respect and protect all civilians, including humanitarian
               personnel and civilian objects, as well as all medical personnel and humanitarian

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           personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and
           equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities, and take all required steps
           to allow and facilitate the full, safe, immediate and unimpeded access of humanitarian
           actors for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to all people in need, while
           respecting the humanitarian principles and applicable international law;
                 53. Reiterates that the Malian authorities have primary responsibility to
           protect civilians in Mali, reaffirms its past resolutions on the Protection of civilians
           in armed conflicts, Children and armed conflicts, Women, pea ce and security, and
           Youth, peace and security, calls upon MINUSMA and all military forces operating in
           Mali to take them into account and to abide by international humanitarian, human
           rights and refugee law, and recalls the importance of training in this regard;
                 54. Welcomes the adoption by the Malian authorities of a third action plan to
           implement resolution 1325 (2000), requests MINUSMA to take fully into account
           gender considerations as a cross-cutting issue throughout its mandate and to assist the
           Malian authorities in ensuring the full, effective and meaningful participation,
           involvement and representation of women at all levels in the implementation of the
           Agreement, including the security sector reform and disarmament, demobilization
           and reintegration processes, as well as in reconciliation and electoral processes, and
           calls on the Malian parties to address the need for extra protection for women and
           children in vulnerable situations as a cross-cutting issue;
                 55. Urges all parties to implement the conclusions on Children And Armed
           Conflict in Mali adopted by the Security Council working group on 19 June 2018,
           encourages the Government of Mali to continue its efforts to strengthen the legal
           framework on child protection, notes the endorsement by the Government of Mali of
           the Safe Schools Declaration and encourages a mapping of schools that have been
           closed, targeted or threatened, calls upon the Government of Mali to ensure that the
           protection of children’s rights is taken into account in disarmament, demobilization
           and reintegration processes and in security sector reform, urges all armed groups to
           establish and implement action plans to end and prevent all six grave violations
           against children, as identified by the Secretary-General, including the recruitment and
           use of children and sexual violence against children, and requests MINUSMA to take
           fully into account child protection as a cross-cutting issue throughout its mandate;
                 56. Urges all parties to prevent and eliminate sexual violence in conflict and
           post-conflict situations, encourages the implementation of the Joint Communiqué on
           sexual and gender-based violence signed by the United Nations and the Government
           of Mali in March 2019, further encourages Malian authorities to continue to take
           steps towards the enactment of the draft law on prevention, prosecution and response
           to gender-based violence, calls upon the Plateforme armed group to implement the
           commitments contained in its Communiqué sur la prévention des violences sexuelles
           liées au conflit au Mali of June 2016 and upon the Coordination armed group to make
           similar commitments, and requests MINUSMA to support efforts in this regard;
                 57. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures to ensure
           full compliance in MINUSMA with the United Nations zero-tolerance policy on
           serious misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual harassment, including
           by making full use of the existing authority of the SRSG to ensure accountability of
           the Mission’s staff and through effective mission support arrangement and to keep the
           Council fully informed if such cases of misconduct occur, and urges troop- and
           police-contributing countries to take appropriate preventative action, including
           vetting, predeployment and in-mission awareness training, and to ensure full
           accountability in cases of such conduct involving their personnel, including through
           timely investigations of all allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, and to



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               repatriate units when there is credible evidence of widespread or systemic sexual
               exploitation and abuse by those units;
                    58. Calls on Member States and international and regional organizations to
               respond swiftly to the significant food and humanitarian crisis in Mali through
               increased contributions;

               Environmental issues
                     59. Requests MINUSMA to consider the environmental impacts of its
               operations when fulfilling its mandated tasks and, in this context, to manage them as
               appropriate and in accordance with applicable and relevant Genera l Assembly
               resolutions and United Nations rules and regulations;

               Small arms, light weapons and explosive ordnance threat mitigation
                     60. Calls upon the Malian authorities to address the issue of the proliferation
               and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons, including by ensuring the safe
               and effective management, storage and security of their stockpiles and ammunitions
               in accordance with the ECOWAS Convention on small arms and light weapons, their
               ammunition and other related materials, the United Nations Programme of Action on
               Small Arms and Light Weapons and with resolution 2220 (2015);
                     61. Calls upon the Malian authorities to strengthen cooperation with the
               United Nations, regional and sub-regional organizations, civil society, and private
               sector in order to give the most appropriate response to explosive ordnance threat;

               Reports by the Secretary-General
                     62. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council every
               three months after the adoption of this resolution on the implementation of this
               resolution, focusing:
                    (i) on progress in the implementation of the Agreement, particularl y on the
                    priority measures referenced in paragraph 3 above,
                    (ii) on progress in the implementation of the Stratégie de stabilisation du
                    centre du Mali, particularly on the priority measures referenced in paragraph 14
                    above, as well as on MINUSMA’s efforts to support these objectives,
                    (iii) on coordination, exchange of information and, when applicable, mutual
                    operational and logistical support, between MINUSMA, the MDSF, the
                    FC-G5S, the French Forces and the European Union missions in Mali,
                    (iv) on measures to improve external communication of the mission;
                    63. Further requests the Secretary-General, addressing perspectives from all
               relevant actors, including the SRSG, in consultation with the Force Commander, to
               provide every six months the Security Council with a letter exclusively and
               thoroughly focusing on:
                    (i) information on progress in mission operations, to include security
                    challenges, implementation of the adaptation plan as well as an update on
                    discussions in the Instance de Coordination au Mali on the coordination of
                    security responsibilities,
                    (ii) information on performance and rotations of uniformed personnel, on the
                    basis of the methodology referred to in paragraph 49, including information on
                    undeclared caveats and their impact on the mission, and how the reported cases
                    of under-performance are addressed,


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                (iii) an update on the implementation of the integrated strategic framework
                referred to in paragraph 24 above, encouraging that this framework also includes
                a transition plan with a view to handing over relevant tasks to the UNCT based
                on their mandates and comparative advantages as well as on a mapping of
                capabilities and gaps, a resource mobilization strategy that involves the full
                range of multilateral and bilateral partners, as well as a possible long-term exit
                strategy of the Mission on the basis of improved security and political conditions
                as well as of progress in the implementation of the Agreement;
                 64. Requests the Secretary-General, in coordination with the Instance de
           Coordination au Mali, the Government of Mali, and in consultation with other
           relevant partners, including UN agencies, member states, regional organizations and
           independent experts, to develop a long-term roadmap assessing the continued
           challenges to peace and security in Mali, and focusing on a set of realistic, relevant
           and clearly measurable benchmarks and conditions, including, among others,
           progress in the implementation of the Agreement, the redeployment of the reformed
           and reconstituted MDSF across the territory of Mali, the full operationalization of the
           FC-G5S and the implementation of MINUSMA’s adaptation plan, to ensure a phased,
           coordinated and deliberate transition of security responsibilities opening the way for
           a possible exit strategy for the mission, when the conditions are met, without
           jeopardizing the stability of Mali and its region, to be presented in its entirety to the
           Security Council by 31 March 2021;
                65.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




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