AU condemns attack in Mali hotel attack

The African Union (AU) has strongly condemned the Bamako terrorist attack and expressed its full solidarity and support to the Malian government and people.

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the AU Commission, has strongly condemned the terrorist attack perpetrated on Friday against a hotel in the Malian capital, Bamako, according to an AU statement later that day.

She expressed AU's full solidarity with the Malian people and Government, as they once again face the scourge of terrorism.

The Chairperson also expressed AU's and the continent's support to their efforts to promote lasting peace and security in their country, through the effective and timely implementation of the peace and reconciliation agreement signed by the parties in May and June 2015.

She conveyed AU's heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and wished speedy recovery to those injured.

The Chairperson stressed that Friday's attack is a further illustration of the growing threat posed by terrorism and extremism in Africa.

She renewed AU's appeal to all member states to enhance their cooperation within the framework of the relevant African and international instruments.

"Indeed, only collective, coordinated and holistic African efforts will make it possible to effectively address terrorism and extremism and rid the continent of this scourge," she said.

The Chairperson reiterated the need for the early establishment of an intervention force to be deployed in northern Mali to combat the terrorist and criminal groups operating in that part of the country, as envisaged by the member countries of the Nouakchott Process on the Enhancement of Security Cooperation and the Operationalization of the African Peace and Security Architecture in the Sahelo-Saharan Region.

In this respect, the Commission is taking steps to follow-up on the conclusions of the meeting of the Ministers of Defense of the countries of the region held in Bamako, on Sept. 4, 2015, according to the statement Endit