UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Wednesday asked parties in Mali to accelerate the implementation of the 2015 Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali.
The Security Council noted that some progress has been made in the implementation of the peace agreement between the government and armed rebel groups in the north.
It also welcomed the launch of the inclusive national dialogue that constitutes a step toward the completion of the constitutional reform. It encouraged all the stakeholders to conduct the dialogue with broad consensus.
Despite the progress, there is still significant work to be done, said the Security Council in a press statement.
It urged the parties to resume their work through the agreement monitoring committee in order to accelerate the implementation of the agreement, through "significant, meaningful and irreversible measures to be taken on an urgent basis."
The council asked, in particular, for measures on the completion of the inclusive constitutional reform, following an inclusive consultation with the full involvement of the Malian parties, the political opposition and civil society, the transfer of decentralized state services to local authorities and increased meaningful participation of women.
The Security Council warned that engaging in hostilities in violation of the 2015 agreement as well as taking actions that obstruct its implementation constitute a basis for sanctions designations under Security Council Resolution 2374.
The council also expressed increased concerns about the deteriorating security situation in central Mali, where conflict has been escalating since 2015 between farmers and herders.
The press statement was released one day after the Security Council heard a briefing by Mahamat Saleh Annadif, the UN secretary-general's special representative in Mali.
