A car bomb that killed more than 50 people at a military base in Gao this morning was a stark reminder of the multiple obstacles hobbling Mali’s ongoing peace process, the head of United Nations peacekeeping told the Security Council today.

The Security Council today, reiterating its concern about the fragile security situation in the north of Mali, called for full respect of the ceasefire agreement of 23 May, while welcoming adoption of a road map committing the Government and armed groups of the Ouagadougou accord to hold formal peace talks.