Foreign Office and DFID Minister for Africa Harriett Baldwin visited Mali on 8-9 November 2018. Her visit comes as the UK is increasing its engagement with countries across the Sahel, in efforts to stabilise the region and support economic development.

During her visit, the Minister discussed security and development challenges in the country with Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga. The Minister highlighted the importance of the Government of Mali accelerating the implementation of the peace accord, as well as pursuing wider reforms to address drivers of conflict and instability.

Minister Baldwin said:

The UK works in close partnership with the Government and people of Mali on security and development, and I’m pleased we are even now increasing this commitment. The long-term stability and prosperity of the Sahel region is important to us, and we will continue to work alongside international partners to make people’s lives better across the region.

British support in Mali includes providing assistance and training to the Malian security forces as well as logistical and helicopter support to Operation Barkhane and funding for the G5 Sahel Joint Force.

In addition, this year, the UK is Mali’s third largest humanitarian partner, on track to provide £287 million in aid across the Sahel between 2014-2019. In a show of support for the region, the UK has also recently announced that it will increase its significant expand its diplomatic presence in Mali as well as increasing its aid funding further.

The Minister saw this British aid in action, for example seeing a nutrition centre which provides emergency support to Malians suffering from acute malnutrition.

Minister Baldwin said:

Greater investment in health and nutrition, particularly for children, is essential. This year’s flooding and displacement means the numbers of Malians with severe malnourishment are shockingly high, and the Government must find a way to support people before they require life-saving interventions.

She also reaffirmed UK support to the EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM) in supporting the development of the Malian Armed Forces and had discussions to push for better international coordination on development, humanitarian and stabilisation efforts.

Further information

A company has been ordered to pay £10,476 in fines and costs for illegally disposing of thousands of tonnes of waste on agricultural land near Exeter.

A company has been ordered to pay £10,476 in fines and costs for illegally disposing of thousands of tonnes of waste on agricultural land near Exeter.

The case was brought by the Environment Agency.

In 2016 Minster Tippers Limited deposited 4,659 tonnes of non-hazardous soil and sub-soil on a field at Poltimore, Exeter. The waste came from development sites around Exeter and was four and a half times the limit allowed by the Environment Agency under an authorisation known as an U1 waste exemption. The maximum limit for soil and sub-soil permitted under a U1 is 1,000 tonnes.

The waste was used to level off a substantial part of a field, significantly altering its character and that of the surrounding landscape. The defendant told the Environment Agency that while they had obtained a copy of the site’s U1 waste exemption they acknowledged they’d failed to comply with its tonnage limits.

Richard Tugwell, for the Environment Agency, said:

The defendant breached the site’s U1 waste exemption tonnage limit for commercial gain and undermined legitimate waste operators. Companies who deposit waste must check a receiving site can legally accept their waste and that they comply with a site’s tonnage limits.

Appearing before Exeter magistrates, Minster Tippers Limited of Combe St Nicholas, Chard, Somerset were fined £7,000 and ordered to pay £3,746 in costs after pleading guilty to an offence under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The case was heard on 29 October 2018.