Secretary-General Strongly Condemns Deadly Extremist Group Attacks in Mali

NNN: The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres:

The Secretary-General is shocked and outraged by reports that at least 100 civilians have been killed in attacks allegedly carried out by extremist groups on several villages in the Bandiagara region of central Mali on 18 and 19 June. It is equally appalled by reports that dozens of civilians have also been killed in other attacks by extremist groups in the Gao region and by the heavy loss of life and livelihoods in other regions of the country, including Ménaka, where tens of thousands of people have been displaced in recent weeks.

The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the people of Mali. He condemns these attacks in the strongest terms and calls on the Malian authorities to promptly investigate them and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Secretary-General calls on the Malian authorities to redouble their efforts to restore peace and stability in Mali, and reiterates the readiness of the United Nations and its Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) to support these efforts .