The United Nations Secretary-General is calling on political leaders in Mali to ensure those responsible for a deadly assault on peacekeepers serving in the north are brought to justice.
A resurgence of communal violence and armed conflict in recent weeks has led to an increase in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northern Mali, the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Friday.
Despite the signing of a 2015 Peace Agreement, the human rights situation in Mali still remains a concern, according to a United Nations report published on Thursday.
The man in charge of blue helmets serving at the UN’s deadliest peacekeeping mission, which is facing serious shortfalls in equipment and personnel, has pledged to succeed - if he’s given the tools to do the job.
This month marks two years since the signing of what it was hoped would be an historic peace accord in Mali.
On Friday the Security Council was updated on the latest developments in the country and the outstanding issues that remain.
Dianne Penn reports.
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UN peacekeeping chief urges support for Mali peace process
Parties to the conflict in Mali must be encouraged to accelerate implementation of a 2015 peace agreement, the new UN peacekeeping chief Jean Pierre Lacroix told the Security Council on Thursday. The deal signed by the Government and armed groups sought to end three years of instability, including a failed military coup and the seizure of the north by radical Islamists. Dianne Penn reports.
The destruction of cultural heritage by terrorists, described as “cultural cleansing” by the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), is a war crime.
Irina Bokova made the remarks on Friday after members of the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on the protection of cultural heritage sites in armed conflict.
During Mali’s state of emergency, the UN’s local radio station, Mikado FM, is helping people stay safe, and informed.
That’s according to Joyce de Pina, who is a radio producer with the station, that is part of the country’s UN stabilization force, MINUSMA.
The government of the West African country declared a state of emergency which lasts until March 31, following terrorist attacks on a hotel in the capital Bamako last November.
A deadly hostage situation at a hotel in Mali which has reportedly led to the deaths of more than 25 people, is over, the UN has confirmed.
Armed terrorists had entered the Radisson Blu hotel in the capital Bamako, early on Friday morning, taking more than 150 hostages.
The hotel is popular with foreign business people, and airline crews.
The UN mission in Mali, MINUSMA, supported the rescue operation providing security personnel and deploying medical resources.
