UN security council decided to strongly condemn the coup on Mali but it urged the group to follow constitutional rule and restoration of stability
Tuareg rebels near the Sahara desert. Photo: IRIN/Phuong Tran
The members of the Security Council strongly condemn the forcible seizure of power from the democratically-elected Government of Mali by some elements of the Malian armed forces, the media release from UN Security Council.
The Security Council was issued press statement after the coup and issued by Council President Mark Lyall Grant from United Kingdom
They call on these elements to ensure the safety and security of President Amadou Toumani Touré and return to their barracks. They demand the release of all detained Malian officials.
The members of the Security Council call for the “immediate restoration of constitutional rule and the democratically-elected Government.” They also call for the preservation of the electoral process as previously scheduled. The members of the Security Council urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint, refrain from violence and remain calm.
The members of the Security Council welcome efforts by the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA) and international partners, especially the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and further express their intention to continue to follow closely the evolution of the situation in Mali.
The members of the Security Council emphasize the need to uphold and respect the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Mali. the separate statement from UN office, The Secretary-General strongly condemns the rebellion by elements of the Malian armed forces who have announced the dissolution of government institutions and the suspension of the Constitution.
He calls on those responsible to refrain from any actions that could increase violence and further destabilize the country. The Secretary-General calls for the “immediate restoration of constitutional rule in Mali.” The United Nations is ready to engage with all relevant stakeholders, including the leaders in the sub-region and ECOWAS toward this end, so as to preserve the democratic gains made by Mali over the past two decades.
The news agencies said: government and rebellious group exchanged gunfire in the capital Thursday and western powers and the African Union condemned the mutiny, Mali’s first coup in 21 years. Captain Amadou Sanogo was known as leader of coup and he appeared on TV channeled and he declared a national curfew as the rebels announced all borders had been closed until further notice.
A statement from Amnesty International denouncing the coup said at least three people had been shot dead, with 28 wounded. The president is himself a former paratrooper who led the ouster of “president-for-life” Moussa Traore in 1991 before handing power to civilians. He won an election in 2002 and was re-elected in 2007.
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