Press releases

Briefing by Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Jean-Pierre Lacroix on the situation in Sudan and South Sudan (UNAMID) - Security Council, 8549th meeting

I thank Kuwait and His Excellency, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, for this opportunity to brief the Council.   I welcome the representatives of The Elders, former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former President Mary Robinson. I also see in front of me the former President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos.  I welcome them in this chamber today, and thank them for contributing their personal wisdom and support to the debate.  

The Secretary-General is outraged by reports that at least 95 civilians, including women and children, have been killed and many injured following an attack yesterday on Sobanou-Kou village, Mopti region, in central Mali. He strongly condemns this attack and calls on the Malian authorities to investigate this tragedy and to bring the perpetrators to justice.  The Secretary-General expresses his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the people and the Government of Mali, and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.

The Secretary-General calls for utmost restraint in Sudan and stresses the importance of upholding the human rights of all citizens,including the right to freedom of assembly and of expression.   Noting the Communiqué adopted by the African Union Peace and Security Council during its meeting on 27 May, he welcomes the progress achieved by the parties regarding matters relating to the Transitional Institutions.