This archive report was first published on 3 January 2020.
On January 3, 2020, UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in Mali and the wider Sahel region in a quarterly report to the UN Security Council.
The report highlighted the failure of the national inclusive dialogue, which aimed to reconcile Mali's divided political class, but was boycotted by most opposition groups due to distrust of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
As a result, the country remains plagued by a grueling jihadist conflict, with violence spreading from the north to the center, claiming thousands of lives.
The 2015 peace agreement, which aimed to disarm rebel groups and integrate them into the national army, has largely gathered dust.
Guterres emphasized that "uncertainty prevails," and warned that "terrorist groups are gaining ground, while attacks against the national and international security forces continue unabated."
He also expressed concern about the continued delays in implementing the Peace Agreement, citing the growing insecurity across the country.
The report noted a significant increase in fatalities in the Malian army, with 193 individuals killed between October and December, a 116 percent rise compared to the previous three months.
Additionally, the UN mission in Mali faced 68 attacks during the same period, compared to 20 in the previous three months.
