Security Council to evaluate term of UN mission in Mali

The term of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) will be re-evaluated by the UN Security Council in June, UN Under Secretary in charge of Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous said over the weekend.

Ladsous was speaking in Bamako after the signing of the final document of the Algiers peace agreement by the Malian government and other armed groups except the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA).

CMA is comprised of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), the High Council of Unity of Azawad (HCUA) and the Arab Movement of Azawad (MAA).

Further, Ladsous warned that the Security Council will "take stern action against all those who violate the ceasefire."

During the signing ceremony, Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita said the "Malian army had never violated the ceasefire and the UN should ensure fairness and justice in this regard."

Ladsous regretted that "during the signing ceremony, efforts deployed by MINUSMA were not acknowledged, yet without them, Mali's 2013 presidential and legislative elections would not have been held successfully."

In terms of human loss, the UN official said besides the Somali crisis, no other UN mission has lost as many soldiers as MINUSMA which has so far left 35 soldiers dead and 155 others injured.

Ladsous said the UN mission in Mali does not seek to replace Malians. "It's Mali to lead in efforts to end the crisis, with our assistance," he concluded. Endi