Suffering in Silence? Volume VIII: Mali

Mali has recently been a center point of the news, especially in Germany, after 12 German soldiers within the UN Peacekeeping mission Minusma were wounded in an attack in June. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in cooperation with CARE Germany, invites you to reflect on the current crisis in Mali. This event is the eighth in a ten-part series, which shines a light on the "ten most under-reported humanitarian crises in 2020".

1 in 3 people in Mali is in need of humanitarian assistance, 1.6 million have been forcibly displaced, 1.3 million people are on the verge of starvation and 90% of the country lived below the international poverty line. Mali has faced years of violent conflict, insecurity and poor governance. In addition, the largely agriculturally based and land-locked country has been experiencing climate shocks, natural disasters and resulting food insecurity. Children are especially affected and often recruited by armed groups. For women, opportunities in the country are limited, as Mali is considered one of the most unequal nations in the world. It is no surpise that the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions and border closures only worsened the pre-existing situation in the country.

What is the current political situation in Mali, after a new transitional government was formed? How did the conflict in this region develop? What is the role of the UN peacekeepers? How can foreign governments, including Germany, interact with this central African nation? What humanitarian situation is developing on the ground and how is civil society affected? Are there solutions how this crisis can be mitigated in the years to come? We hereby invite you to examine and ask these questions in conversation with our international experts.