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EU to pledge 520m euros for Mali reconstruction Donors pledge $4bn (£2.6bn) for Mali's reconstruction
(about 9 hours later)
The European Union will pledge 520m euros (£442m; $673m) to help rebuild Mali, at a conference of international donors in Brussels. More than $4bn (£2.6bn) has been pledged to help rebuild Mali, at an international donor conference.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the money would help the West African state become "stable, democratic and prosperous". French President Francois Hollande, co-chair of the Brussels conference, said rich country pledges had exceeded the $2.5bn anticipated.
Mali's president said the world had "unanimously moved in the direction of Mali".
The conference is the first since France sent troops to oust Islamist rebels from northern Mali in January.The conference is the first since France sent troops to oust Islamist rebels from northern Mali in January.
Mali's government has a 4.3bn-euro plan for "a total relaunch of the country".Mali's government has a 4.3bn-euro plan for "a total relaunch of the country".
It includes rebuilding government institutions and the military, repairing damaged infrastructure, organising presidential elections, holding dialogue with rebel groups in the north, and stimulating the economy. It includes rebuilding government institutions and the military, repairing damaged infrastructure, organising presidential elections, holding dialogue with rebel groups in the north and stimulating the economy.
'Good start' 'Road to recovery'
After meeting the European Commission chief in Brussels on Tuesday, Mali's interim President Dioncounda Traore said he hoped about 2bn euros would be raised at the donors' conference. "We need water, health, justice, jobs, fairness," said Mali's interim President Dioncounda Traore.
"I think that's a good start," he told a news conference. "Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, in a week or in a month, it is clear that the international community, the European Union, will inject a lot more than that." Mr Hollande said: "Mali is on the road to recovery."
"It is recovering its territorial integrity, is actively preparing for the presidential elections in July and, with the international donor conference in Brussels, is making progress in its development."
The BBC's International development correspondent, Mark Doyle, says that not all of the pledges may actually be delivered.
He points out that all sorts of techniques will have been used to massage the figures. For example, donor countries often "double count" their aid, pledging it several times under different headings and at different meetings.
EU pledge
On Tuesday the European Union pledged 520m euros (£442m; $673m) to help the country. Mr Traore had described the donation as "a good start".
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the money would help the West African state become "stable, democratic and prosperous".
Mr Barroso said the aid would benefit Europe as well as Africa.Mr Barroso said the aid would benefit Europe as well as Africa.
"The support of the international community is essential to establish a Mali that is stable, democratic and prosperous," he added. "But the principal actors in this transition are the Malians themselves and their government.""The support of the international community is essential to establish a Mali that is stable, democratic and prosperous," he added. "But the principal actors in this transition are the Malians themselves and their government."
He said the EU welcomed the Transition Roadmap, aimed at establishing a full return to democracy and stability in the country, and the Plan for the Sustainable Recovery of Mali, which Malian officials will present at the conference on Wednesday. He said the EU welcomed the Transition Roadmap, aimed at establishing a full return to democracy and stability in the country, and the Plan for the Sustainable Recovery of Mali, which Malian officials presented at the conference on Wednesday.
Officials say 103 international delegations, including 10 heads of state and government, will attend the meeting, which was organised by Mr Barroso, Mr Traore and French President Francois Hollande. Officials had said 103 international delegations, including 10 heads of state and government, would attend the meeting, which was organised by Mr Barroso, Mr Traore and Mr Hollande.
Since the French-led military intervention at the start of the year, the Islamist rebels have been pushed back from the main urban centres of northern Mali. However, some fighters have retreated to hideouts in the mountains and desert, from where they launch isolated attacks.Since the French-led military intervention at the start of the year, the Islamist rebels have been pushed back from the main urban centres of northern Mali. However, some fighters have retreated to hideouts in the mountains and desert, from where they launch isolated attacks.
Tens of thousands of refugees also remain in neighbouring Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger.Tens of thousands of refugees also remain in neighbouring Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger.
France nevertheless began withdrawing the first of its 4,500 troops in the country last month. It hopes to have only 1,000 remaining by the end of the year.France nevertheless began withdrawing the first of its 4,500 troops in the country last month. It hopes to have only 1,000 remaining by the end of the year.
They are due to work alongside peacekeepers from the United Nations' Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (Minusma).They are due to work alongside peacekeepers from the United Nations' Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (Minusma).
Mr Traore also told Tuesday's news conference that Mali's presidential elections would take place on 28 July, after months of speculation about the date. He said neither he nor any member of the transitional government would stand in the poll. Mr Traore told a news conference on Tuesday that Mali's presidential elections would take place on 28 July, after months of speculation about the date. He said neither he nor any member of the transitional government would stand in the poll.
BBC international development correspondent Mark Doyle says the Islamists were only able to occupy large parts of Mali in the first place because of because of a weak and corrupt central government. The BBC's Mark Doyle says the Islamists were only able to occupy large parts of Mali in the first place because of because of a weak and corrupt central government.
Rebuilding state institutions is therefore a priority, but it is also an enormous task, our correspondent says.Rebuilding state institutions is therefore a priority, but it is also an enormous task, our correspondent says.