Security Council Press Statement on Terrorist Attack Near Boni, Mali

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Kairat Umarov (Kazakhstan):

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the barbaric and cowardly terrorist attack against a bus transporting civilians, which took place near Boni, in the centre of Mali, on 25 January 2018, and during which 26 people from Mali and Burkina Faso, including children, were killed.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the Governments of Mali and Burkina Faso.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.  They expressed their solidarity with Mali in its fight against terrorism and stressed the need to intensify regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism, which may be conducive to terrorism.

The members of the Security Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.  They reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts to justice, and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Governments of Mali and Burkina Faso, as well as all other relevant authorities in this regard.

The members of the Security Council commended the efforts of the region, including through the development of a G5 Sahel Joint Force, in order to address the transnational dimension of the terrorist threat in the Sahel region, and encouraged further progress in this regard.