The Army Consolidates its Position in Bamako

The de facto partition of the country is both a result and a cause of the political crisis in Bamako. The humanitarian situation in the north of the country has worsened, with numerous human rights violations reported. The interim institutions face difficulties in steering the transition process. The last four months of 2012 have seen the intensification of diplomatic efforts to authorise deploying an African-led force in the north of the country. The EU has called for a coherent and comprehensive approach. The EU Council has endorsed the concept of a new CSDP training mission in Mali. Within the UN, the US and France disagree on the best way forward. Recent events are likely to delay the adoption of a UN resolution.