2nd LD Writethru: U.N. Security Council slams deadly terrorist attack on blue helmets in north Mali

The U.N. Security Council on Thursday condemned in the strongest terms a deadly terrorist attack on U.N. peacekeepers in north Mali, underlining the need to bring the perpetrators to justice.

A convoy of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) on Wednesday hit an improvised explosive device and then came under fire by an unknown group of armed assailants approximately 15 km north of Aguelhok, Kidal region in north Mali. Five Chadian peacekeepers were killed and three others were injured during the attack.

The Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitute one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice, according to a statement issued to the press by the 15-nation U.N. body.

On Wednesday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the deadly attack and called for "swift action to bring the perpetrators of this heinous attack to justice".

The council members expressed their deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, as well as to the government of Chad, called on the government of Mali to swiftly investigate this attack and bring the perpetrators to justice, the statement said.

The council members urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard, the statement said.

The council members reiterated their full support for MINUSMA and the French forces that support it, and their strong support for the special representative of the U.N. secretary-general for Mali, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, and for MINUSMA to assist the Malian authorities and the Malian people to bring lasting peace and stability to their country, the statement said.

They further stressed the importance that MINUSMA has the necessary capacities to fully fulfill its current mandate, the statement added.

The council members expressed their concern about the security situation in Mali, and noted that full implementation of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali and intensification of efforts to overcome asymmetric threats can contribute to improving the security situation across the country, according to the statement.

MINUSMA was established by the U.N. Security Council on April 25, 2013. Under the relevant Security Council resolution, the U.N. mission is mandated to support the political process in the West African country and carry out a number of security-related stabilization tasks, with a focus on major population centers and lines of communication and protecting civilians.

Since a military coup struck Mali in March 2012, its northern region has served as a stronghold of the rebels. Mali is now in the process of restoring democracy with the help of the United Nations and African regional bodies, including the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Despite initial security improvements in 2013, the situation in northern Mali has deteriorated since the beginning of 2014. An increase in incidents involving improvised explosive devices, mostly targeting Malian and international security forces, has impeded the return to normalcy and resumption of economic and development activities. Endi