From 5 to 6 May 2016, Luxembourg Minister for Cooperation and Humanitarian Action, Romain Schneider, was in Mali to co-chair the 9th Partnership Commission alongside the Malian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abdoulaye Diop.

The meeting was preceded by the traditional political dialogue which helped to review the implementation of the agreement for peace and reconciliation in Mali and on the security and regional situation.

The ninth Partnership Commission revealed the successful launch of the third indicative cooperation programme projects, signed on 5 March 2015 in Luxembourg. With a budget of €55 million, this ICP III covers the period ranging from 2015 to 2019 and was prepared in the spirit of a bilateral partnership between Mali and the Grand Duchy.

Rural development and food security form the basis of the ICP for its programmes in the north and south, whilst training and employability have been continued from previous actions but this time within the context of the rural world. Decentralisation and good governance complement these actions in the field and contribute to the implementation of the peace agreement signed in May/June 2015.

As a means of strengthening the relations between ICP stakeholders, including the bilateral component implemented by the agencies LuxDev, Proman and the NGO SOS Faim and the multilateral component brought by the WFP, ILO, FAO and UNDP, a letter of intent was signed on the sideline of the ninth Partnership Commission.

Minister Schneider then attended the luncheon hosted in his honour by the Minister of Solidarity, Humanitarian Action and Northern Reconstruction, Hamadou Konate, in the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdoulaye Diop; Minister of Agriculture, Kassoum Denon; Minister of Decentralisation and State Reform, Ag Erlaf; Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, Youth and Citizen Building, Mahamane Baby; and Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, Nango Dembélé.

Romain Schneider was also received in audience by Ibrahim Boubabacar Keita, President of Mali, and was able to meet with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and head of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), Mahama Saleh Annadif.

The Minister additionally held a meeting with the head of the military mission for the training of the Malian army deployed by the European Union (EUTM), General Werner Albl, before visiting the EUTM headquarters to sign the guest book. He met with the head of the civilian mission to support the internal security forces of Mali deployed by the European Union (EUCAP Sahel Mali), General Albrecht Conze, with both European missions welcoming Luxembourg's continous commitment in terms of human resources and funds.

Minister Schneider's visit to Bamako forms part of the Grand Duchy's "3 D" policy combining development, diplomacy and defence, premised on the quote from former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan that there is no development without security and no security without development.

 

Photo by MAEE (L-R): Romain Schneider; Abdoulaye Diop)