A meeting of the Commission Technique Mixte de Sécurité (CTMS), chaired by MINUSMA, took place in Gao yesterday with representatives of the Government, the Plateforme and the Coordination.

The findings of the Equipe Mixte d’Observation et de Vérification (EMOV), which is responsible for verifying the facts on the ground and reporting to the CTMS, were presented during this meeting.

Two missions, to Ménaka and Timbuktu, were conducted on 29 April.

The EMOV’s findings unequivocally establish that the protagonists, the Plateforme and Coordination, violated the ceasefire agreements.

In its statement on 1 May 2015, the Security Council of the United Nations condemned the violations of the ceasefire, recalling that targeted sanctions could be imposed, as previously mentioned in the statement of the President of the Security Council on 6 February 2015 and the statement to the press on 10 April 2015.

In line with the position of the Security Council and, more generally, that of the international community, MINUSMA strongly condemns the acts of violence committed in the north of Mali during the past few days.

The mission stresses that the parties involved in hostilities on the ground absolutely and immediately have to cease all hostilities.

In order to stabilize the situation in Ménaka, MINUSMA asks the Plateforme to withdraw from the town without delay.

MINUSMA also asks the Coordination to withdraw from newly occupied positions without delay.

MINUSMA’s role is to help Mali by impartially facilitating meetings between the protagonists, and the Comité de Suivi et d’Evaluation (CSE) falls within this framework.

The CTMS has recommended that a meeting of the CSE be held soon to decide on the implementation of the security arrangements and take the necessary political measures to end hostilities.

In any case, MINUSMA will take the necessary measures within the framework of its mandate to:

- prevent the violation of human rights,

- protect the population,

- facilitate humanitarian assistance.

“In spite of the current tensions, reason must prevail,” the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of MINUSMA, Mr. Mongi Hamdi, said this morning. “I make every effort to calm the situation and the tensions. MINUSMA does not take sides; in no way. It simply wishes for the protagonists to honour their commitments. All parties have to remain engaged in the process, which has to lead to the signature of a peace agreement on 15 May. MINUSMA cannot impose peace, but it will do everything to achieve it, for the benefit of all Malians,” he added.