A tenuous solution in Mali: between internal constraints and external pressures

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyses the 18 June 2013 Preliminary Agreement for the Presidential Election and Inclusive Peace Talks in Mali, the challenges facing the July 2013 presidential elections, and the transition of the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) into the United Nations Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

• The Preliminary Agreement signed on 18 June 2013 in Ouagadougou aimed to facilitate the July 2013 presidential elections and establish a path toward a 'global and final peace agreement'. The agreement includes commitments to Mali's national unity and territorial integrity, a ceasefire, the eventual disarmament of northern armed groups, and the redeployment of security forces to the Kidal region.
• The negotiations leading to the agreement were influenced by three primary factors: the restructuring of Tuareg armed groups (including the creation of the High Council for the Unity of Azawad), the Malian transition government's desire to reclaim ownership of the process, and pressure from the international community to hold elections by 28 July 2013 to avoid armed conflict over Kidal.
• The July 2013 presidential elections faced significant technical and security obstacles, including the distribution of 6.8 million biometric NINA cards, the registration of refugees and internally displaced persons, the slow return of public administration to Kidal, and the threat of asymmetric attacks by Islamic radicals, particularly in the Gao region.
• The Dialogue and Reconciliation Commission, established in March 2013 with a two-year mandate, gained new legitimacy through the Ouagadougou Agreement. It is tasked with initiating peace talks 60 days after the installation of the new government to address issues such as regional development, the reorganization of security forces, and the return of refugees.
• On 1 July 2013, AFISMA was transformed into MINUSMA following UN Security Council Resolution 2100. This transition was driven by French concerns over the sustainability of the African mission. However, the process created tensions between the UN, the African Union (AU), and ECOWAS, as African actors felt inadequately consulted and sidelined in the political facilitation of the crisis.

APA

Théroux-Bénoni, L.-A., & Dakono, B. (2013). A tenuous solution in Mali: between internal constraints and external pressures. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ECOWAS-Report-5-ENG.pdf

Chicago

Théroux-Bénoni, Lori-Anne, and Baba Dakono. A tenuous solution in Mali: between internal constraints and external pressures. Institute for Security Studies, 2013. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ECOWAS-Report-5-ENG.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Théroux-Bénoni |first1=Lori-Anne |last2=Dakono |first2=Baba |title=A tenuous solution in Mali: between internal constraints and external pressures |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=July 2013 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ECOWAS-Report-5-ENG.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{throuxbnoni2013tenuous, author = {Théroux-Bénoni, Lori-Anne and Dakono, Baba}, title = {{A tenuous solution in Mali: between internal constraints and external pressures}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2013}, month = jul, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ECOWAS-Report-5-ENG.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }