Following the explosion on 21 February of an explosive device near the village of Songobia, which caused the death of three blue helmets and injuries, the members of the Security Council condemned this attack in the strongest terms. After sending their most sincere condolences and their solidarity to the families of the victims as well as to Senegal, the Security Council asked the transitional government to open an investigation into this attack. On March 1, the President of the Security Council, Ms. Vanessa Frazier, referred to the attack perpetrated against the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), on February 21 near the village of Songobia, south-west of the town of Bandiagara, in which three peacekeepers from Senegal were killed and five others wounded.Bandiagara, in which three peacekeepers from Senegal were killed and five others wounded.
During this meeting, the members of the Council asked the Malian Transitional Government to quickly open an investigation into this attack with the support of MINUSMA, to bring the perpetrators to justice and to keep the troop-contributing country on progress made pursuant to Security Council resolutions 2518 (2020) and 2589 (2021). They stressed that attacks targeting peacekeeping personnel could constitute war crimes under international law and that planning, ordering, ordering or committing attacks against MINUSMA peacekeepers was grounds for sanctions pursuant to Council resolutions.
Furthermore, they declared that the host countries were primarily responsible for the safety and security of United Nations personnel and assets and stressed the importance of exchanges and communications between MINUSMA and the Government of Mali. of transition. In other words, the members of the Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.
Opportunity for them to affirm that those who commit, organize, finance or sponsor these unspeakable acts of terrorism should be brought to justice. Furthermore, they argued that those responsible must be held to account for their actions and urged all States to cooperate actively with all competent authorities in this regard, in accordance with their obligations under international law and the applicable Security Council resolutions.
In the same fervor, the leaders of the peacekeeping mission reaffirmed that all acts of terrorism were unjustifiable crimes, whatever their motives, perpetrators, place and time. This made them say that all States must fight by all means, in compliance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations arising from international law, in particular international human rights law, international law of refugees and international humanitarian law, the threats posed by acts of terrorism to international peace and security.
Continuing, Council members reaffirmed their full support for MINUSMA and other security forces present in the Sahel region, as set out in resolution 2640 (2022). However, they hinted at their concern about the prevailing security conditions in Mali and the transnational dimension of the terrorist threat in the Sahel region. “We urge all Malian parties to fully implement the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali without further delay. The establishment of lasting peace and security in the Sahel region necessarily requires joint efforts at the political level and in the fields of security, peacekeeping and sustainable development, for the benefit of all regions of Mali, and through the full, effective and inclusive implementation of the Agreement,” the press release quoted.
In conclusion, Council members expressed the importance of MINUSMA having all the necessary capabilities to carry out its mandate and promote the safety and security of United Nations peacekeeping personnel, in accordance with the Council resolution 2640 (2022). And to conclude that these heinous acts would in no way weaken their determination to continue to support the process of peace and reconciliation in Mali.
Source: The Observatory
