Addis Ababa, 25 November 2017: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, strongly condemns the terrorist attacks perpetrated against the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), in the regions of Meneka and Mopti, on 24 November 2017. These attacks resulted in the death of four peacekeepers (three Nigeriens and one Burkinabé), as well as one Malian soldier, while several other personnel were injured.

The Chairperson of the Commission presents the African Union's most grieved condolences to the bereaved families of the killed soldiers and wishes a speedy recovery to the wounded. He assures  MINUSMA and the United Nations, the troop-contributing countries and the Malian Government of the full solidarity of the African Union.

The Chairperson of the Commission underlines that these attacks are a further illustration of the seriousness of the threat posed by terrorist and criminal groups to the security and stability of the Sahel region, as well as of the challenges facing MINUSMA in the discharge of its mandate. At a time when the Security Council is considering the draft resolution on the G5 Sahel Joint Force, following its debate on 30 October 2017, the attacks of 24 November 2017 are a stark reminder of the urgency of strong and effective support for the efforts undertaken by the countries of the region to pool their resources in order to more effectively combat terrorism and organized crime. In this respect, the Chairperson of the Commission reiterates his appeal to the Security Council to take the measures expected of it, on the basis of the recommendations made by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in his report of 16 October 2017.