III. NATIONAL POLICY FOR INTERNAL SECURITY AND CIVILIAN PROTECTION 3.1. A National Security Policy in Mali. What for? Article 53 of the Constitution of the Republic of Mali of 25 February, 1992, stipulates that the Government shall determine and implement the Nation's policy. Each minister shall work out and implement a National Policy covering his own area of competence, pursuant to the decree setting out the specific responsibilities of each member of government. Presently, the responsibility of working out and implementing the National Security Policy belongs to the Minister of Internal Security and Civilian Protection. However the scope and complexity of security issues have, during the past two decades, assumed extraordinary dimensions, which compelled the Government of the Republic of Mali to organise, in 2005, a major national confab known as« National Conference on Security and Peace in Mali», with the purpose of: - Meeting security challenges as regards their natures, forms, origins and developments; - Involving all sections of the society in the national debate on these security challenges; - Working out realistic and coherent strategies that are compatible with the national, sub-regional, regional and international environment; - Evaluating the relevant need and working out a medium and long term implementation programme. Since the security issue is a common concern that should be carefully addressed and managed, the national strategy for managing security issues should be transparent, holistic, inclusive and credible. It should be adapted to the national and international environment, which implies its interactive character. 39