MINUSMA reiterates its strong condemnation of the armed clashes that have been taking place between the Plateforme and the Coordination des Mouvements de l’Azawad since 15 August, including the takeover of Anefis by elements of the Plateforme today. These acts constitute a flagrant violation of the ceasefire and the Peace Agreement.

MINUSMA urges the parties to cease fighting immediately and to return to the positions they occupied before 15 August 2015.        

MINUSMA is committed to fulfilling its responsibilities pertaining to the protection of civilians.

In this context, as a preemptive measure to protect the population of the city of Kidal from being affected should the fighting continue to spread, MINUSMA announces the following measures:

       A 20 km security zone around the city of Kidal will be established tomorrow, Tuesday, 18 August at 0800 hrs, and will remain in effect until further notice.
        Any movement inside this security zone by elements of the Plateforme or affiliated with the Plateforme will be considered an imminent threat to the safety of the population of the city of Kidal.
        In case of a violation of the security zone by elements of the Plateforme or affiliated with the Plateforme, MINUSMA will react accordingly, in conformity with its mandate.

Concurrently, investigations will be conducted into the ceasefire violations to establish responsibilities, and their results will be shared with the UN Security Council.