The United Nations Peacekeeping Mission and the African Union Commission have condemned the barbaric, inhumane and despicable terrorist attacks perpetrated in Bamba (Gao Region), Mali on Thursday.
It was reported on Friday that terrorists attacked a boat and a position of the Malian army, killing civilians and soldiers, and causing injuries and extensive material damage on 07 September 2023.
The United Nations Spokesperson at a Press Briefing while responding to question from journalists said the UN certainly very worried but made it known that Peacekeeping Mission condemned this criminal act, and sent its condolences to the victim’s families and to the people of Mali.
According to him, “We’re certainly very worried. You may have seen that in a tweet today, the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, MINUSMA, expressed its own deep sadness at the attack against the Tombouctou boat yesterday.
“The mission condemned this criminal act, and it sends its condolences to the victim’s families and to the people of Mali.
“But certainly, this is another sign that all of the forces on the ground, including the armed forces of Mali, need to do much more to make sure that people will be protected as our mission goes ahead with mandated withdrawal”, he said.
Also, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, condemned in the strongest possible terms, described the attack as inhumane and despicable.
The President of the AU Commission shared in the grief, offers his deepest condolences to the people and Government of Mali, and wishes speedy recovery to the injured.
He reaffirmed the continued and unwavering solidarity and support of the African Union to Malian people during this context of transitioning to sustainable peace and stability; and continues to encourages the valiant people and the authorities in Mali.
“To maintain the resilience they have shown in the face of the terrorist hydra, which has enabled them to pursue both the fight against insecurity and the Transition agenda, in a particularly difficult international context”, Faki said.
The AU Chairperson called on African countries and Africans friends around the world to support Sahelian countries in their fight against terrorism.
The UN peacekeeping mission, known as Minusma, has until December 31 to exit Mali after a decade of struggling to stabilize the country’s security environment amid separatist and jihadist rebellions.
In August 2020, the President of Mali was overthrown in a coup that included an army colonel who staged a second coup and was sworn in as president in June 2021.
He established ties to the Russian army and the Wagner group, whose head was Yevgeny Prigozhin died last week in a plane crash on a flight from Moscow.
The 13,000-man mission was ordered to withdraw earlier this year under the demand of Mali’s ruling junta, following the pullout of French troops in 2022.