France welcomes Mali’s new government

France welcomed the nomination of Mali’s first government after months-long conflict with Islamists, and vowed to help its former colony improve domestic governance and boost security, the foreign ministry said Monday.

In a statement released by the Quai d’Orsay, the ministry’s spokesman Philippe Lalliot said French officials “note with satisfaction that … justice and reconciliation is a priority for the new Malian authorities … (and) particularly welcome the creation of a ministry dedicated to national reconciliation and the North’s development.”

“France will remain alongside Mali to face the challenges … of state restoration, improving governance, security and development,” he added.

On Sunday, Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita announced his new 34-member cabinet with Oumar Tatam Ly, a technocrat and regional BCEAO central bank, as Prime Minister.