Another attack in northern Mali further jeopardizes the peace process

BAMAKO, 20 June. - (ANA) - Senegalese peacekeepers conducted a large operation to secure the circle of Koro, in Mali’s central Mopti region.

Late on Monday, unidentified armed individuals attacked the villages of Yoro and Gangafani, in the Mopti region in central Mali, near the border with Burkina Faso. Initial reports indicate that at least 38 people were killed and many wounded. The Malian defense and security forces were deployed to the area to secure the zone and investigate the attacks.

“As the Secretary-General has stated repeatedly, the cycle of violence in the centre of Mali must end,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told the press at UN headquarters in New York, on Wednesday. “Perpetrators of acts of violence must be brought to justice and efforts to promote reconciliation between communities must be accelerated,” he stressed.

Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix is currently in Mali with Pedro Serrano, the European Union’s Deputy-Secretary-General for Common Security and Defense Policy and Crisis Response of the European External Action Service. They will be in in the country until 21 June to discuss ways to enhance support by the UN and the European Union to accelerate the implementation of the 2015 peace agreement and the restoration of State authority in northern and central Mali.

The delegation will meet with Government authorities at the highest level, signatory armed groups, political representatives, civil society, women groups and international partners. - (ANA) -

AB/ANA/20 June 2019 - - -