II. INTERNATIONAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SECURITY ENVIRONMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF REFORM OF THE SECURITY SECTOR IN MALI. In 2005, when the government of Mali embarked upon the process to reform the Security Sector, the national, regional and international security environment was predominantly characterised by violent conflicts. These conflicts, which endangered the existence of States and communities, originated from internal crises, inter-community strifes, aggressive activities by non-State armed groups, etc. The immediate targets and victims of such violent conflicts are men, women and children, in short the human society. Consequently, neither the economies, nor moral and cultural values were spared, thus worsening the dependence status and vulnerability of African States. 2.1. Overview Of The World's Security Situation The violent occurrences and global insecurity that characterised the'90s had compromised peace worldwide. The deadly attacks against the World Trade Centre in New York on 11 September, 2001, the bombing of a railway station in Madrid on 11 March, 2004, and metro station in London on 7 and 21 July, 2005 and the subsequent war undertaken by the Western World against the terrorists' networks, had all made security to become a key issue in international relations. Every day that goes by highlights the prominence of security, considering news about threats to the security of persons and nations. These perils, which spare neither States nor persons, are known as natural disasters, epidemic and pandemic diseases, ferocious struggles for political power and natural resources, multiplication and exacerbation of internal conflicts, proliferation of small arms, trafficking of drugs and humans, terrorism, etc. 25