The situation in northern Mali is worsening

Demonstration in front of MINUSMA HQ in Gao, 26 January 2015 (Photo: Daniel M Meboya)

The United Nations Security Council expressed on 5 May 2015 its deep concern at the outbreak of violence that has occurred in Mali this past week, which "threatens to undermine the peace process, and demanded that the hostilities cease immediately."

In a statement to the press, the 15-member Council urged the parties to demonstrate their commitment to the peace process and adhere to their obligations under the cease fire agreement of 23 May 2014, and the declarations of cessation of hostilities of 24 July 2014 and 19 February 2015.

Meanwhile, jihadists continue to sabotage a mausoleum in central Mali that had been submitted as a UNESCO World Heritage site, leaving behind a warning that they will come after all those who don't follow their strict version of Islam.

In the region of Gao, a pro-government militia, Gatia, and ethnic Arab allies from the loyalist Arab Azawad Movement (MAA) besieged on 27 April 2015 the town of Ménaka, which had been under partial MNLA and allies’ rebel control. In retaliation, the rebels targeted government forces in the town of Léré, a deadly assault they described in a statement as "legitimate self-defence."

At the same time,  the United Nations in New York has released on 5 May 2015 a secret footage showing a Rwandan policeman in the blue helmet of a United Nations peacekeeper in Mali on 27 January 2015 carefully take aim at a civilian protester, squeeze the trigger and shoot, according to sources who saw the video.   The videotape, taken by a Chinese UN peacekeeper that was also at the scene of the violent demonstration, was part of the evidence presented in a UN inquiry into the incident which resulted in the Rwandan contingent going home.