Security Council Press Statement on Terrorist Attack in Mali

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Gerard Jacobus van Bohemen (New Zealand):

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack against a convoy of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) on 2 July, in the region of Timbuktu, during which six Burkinabe peacekeepers were killed and others injured.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest condolences to the families of the victims of this attack, as well as to the Government and people of Burkina Faso.

The members of the Security Council called on the Government of Mali to swiftly investigate this attack and bring the perpetrators to justice and stressed that those responsible for the attack should be held accountable.  The members of the Security Council underlined that attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.

The members of the Security Council reminded States that they must ensure that measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support to MINUSMA and the French forces that support it.  They reiterated their strong support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Mali, Mongi Hamdi, and for MINUSMA to assist the Malian authorities and the Malian people in their efforts to bring lasting peace and stability to their country, including through MINUSMA’s support to the implementation of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, and paid tribute to the peacekeepers who risk their lives in this respect.