International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) - Ivorian minister of foreign affairs, Charles Koffi Diby, says increasing the number of troops of the International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) is the top priority to guard against all eventualities.
Speaking at the opening of the extraordinary session of the mediation and security council of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abidjan on Monday, Mr Diby said to meet the demands of the challenge, the number of troops should be increased from 3,300 to 8,000.
Mr. Diby put the overall financial estimate of the increase of troops at US$950 million.
He expressed satisfaction that 70 per cent of the troops had arrived in Mali, but called for the acceleration of their deployment on all fronts to secure the cities in northern Mali.
'The success of the process of restoration of Mali's territorial integrity, coupled with the need for us to maintain the flicker of hope entertained by the Malian populations is important,' Mr. Diby said.
The Chairperson of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo, said that the support of the United Nations and the entire international community would be indispensable.
The meeting would discuss regional security, including the draft ECOWAS counter-terrorism strategy and its implementation plan, among other issues.
It will also discuss the regional draft political declaration and common position against terrorism.
Pana 26/02/2013