Civilians Suffer as Violence Flares Up in Mali

El-Ghassim Wane, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Mission in Mali, MINUSMA, briefed the Security Council on major developments in the West African country over the past three months. He said security situation remains quite volatile, marked by pockets of terrorist violence, with devastating consequences for civilians.

Despite operations by the Malian forces, and Niger, the security and humanitarian situation remains disastrous. More than 30,000 displaced people have converged near the main city, also called Ménaka, and roughly 2,400 have sheltered near a MINUSMA camp. Wane last visited the region three weeks ago.

Wane said the operations of the Malian forces have generally disrupted extremist activities in the centre, forcing them to disperse toward the neighbouring regions of Timbuktu and Gao.

In light of the security challenges, Wane underscored the need for closer coordination between the Malian forces and the UN Mission. He welcomed recent steps taken at the regional level, which he said must be enhanced, adding that freedom of movement is equally important.