UN urges Malians to implement peace accord to ensure successful elections

UNITED NATIONS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A United Nations official on Wednesday urged parties concerned in Mali to implement the 2015 peace accord in order to ensure successful elections this year.

"The peace process is complex, but it is time to move from promises to action to meet agreed deadlines," Mahamat Saleh Annadif, special representative of the UN Secretary-General and head of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), told the UN Security Council, adding that advancing the peace process and holding elections must go hand in hand.

He noted that the entire political class agreed that elections must take place on time, with the utmost transparency and credibility.

After dialogue and negotiation, a peace accord had finally been concluded between the Malian government and two coalitions of armed groups that were fighting the government and against each other. The peace accord was formally signed on May 15, 2015.

He stressed that this is an election year in Mali, with the first round of presidential election scheduled for July 29 and legislative elections envisioned for November and December.

In terms of preparations, he said, an agreement is in place to revise the electoral law and an order has been placed for 8 million voter' cards.

In line with its mandate, MINUSMA has started to lend technical and logistical support, including the distribution of election materials and deployment of electoral personnel, while also preparing for any potential violence.

The special representative said the Security Council must call on the Malian political class to respect the adopted timetable and encourage them along the path to consensual, peaceful and credible elections.

"The alternative would mean adding one crisis onto another, with the enemies of peace emerging the victors," he said. Enditem