Bamako, 22 May, 2015 – MINUSMA acknowledges reports on the execution of a number of civilians, amongst them an NGO aid worker, in the village of Tin-Hamma, in the region of Gao. These reports indicate serious violations of human rights and International Humanitarian Law.
These brutalities follow confrontations between members of the Platform and the Coordination des Mouvements de l’Azawad (CMA) on the 20th of May.
According to its mandate MINUSMA already deployed a team to the site to investigate the allegations.
Awaiting the results of this investigation, MINUSMA stresses that if the reported information proves to be correct, these acts constitutes serious crimes and those responsible need to be brought to justice.
MINSUMA expresses its deepest concerns on the alarming increase of armed confrontations in several locations in the North of Mali. MINUSMA strongly condemns these heinous acts constituting clear violations of the cease-fire and endangering the peace-process, of which civilians will be the first victims.
These confrontations cause a significant increase of movements of civilians, worsening the humanitarian situation in Mali.
MINUSMA deplores the decline, of the already limited, humanitarian space as a result of this violence and the negative effect on access and distribution of humanitarian support for the most vulnerable, especially women and children in need of urgent assistance.
Pursuant Security Council Resolution 2164, MINUSMA calls upon the parties to uphold to the obligations International Humanitarian Law imposes. To respect and protect staff, material and humanitarian relief, facilitate free passage of humanitarian actors in order to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to those in need, all in respect of the United Nations guiding principles concerning humanitarian aid and applying international law.
