African Union condemns assassination of Mali's defense minister

Addis Ababa, April 30 The African Union (AU) on Thursday condemned the assassination of Mali's Defence Minister Sadio Camara following a recent coordinated terrorist attack that targeted different parts of the country.

The AU's Peace and Security Council, in a statement issued Thursday following the council's recent meeting on the security situation in Mali, expressed deep concern over the widespread coordinated attacks, systematic killings, and displacements of the Malian population by terrorist groups in the West African country.

Expressing its concern over the "fast-deteriorating security situation" in Mali and the entire Sahel region, the council emphasised the importance of a "whole of society and whole of region approach" in responding to the scourge of terrorism and violent extremism within the framework of collective security, reported Xinhua news agency.

The continental bloc said that all efforts to address the current crisis "must be comprehensive, multidimensional, and must fully respect Mali's national sovereignty," while supporting the restoration of stability and state authority throughout the country's territory.

The council urged the country's transitional authorities to expedite the restoration of constitutional order to create conducive conditions for durable peace and stability, toward alleviating the suffering of the Malian people.

The council further highlighted the need for urgent mobilisation of a coordinated humanitarian response to address the needs of internally displaced persons and vulnerable communities, as well as to ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access to affected populations in the country.

The Malian transitional government announced on Sunday that Camara died following Saturday's coordinated terrorist attacks, which targeted his residence with a vehicle bomb driven by a suicide attacker.

Meanwhile, the Malian army said on Thursday that it carried out airstrikes on an arms cache and logistics assets belonging to terrorist groups in the northern city of Kidal.

The strikes were conducted on Wednesday afternoon, following terrorist attacks on the city's military camp and government facilities, the General Staff of the Armed Forces said in a statement.

Several terrorists were "neutralised," with the targeted logistics assets completely destroyed, including a fuel tanker, an armed pickup truck and an armoured vehicle, the statement said.

The army will continue pursuing armed terrorist groups across the country, the statement added.

Kidal, a long-restive city in northern Mali, has in recent days become a focal point of military operations and clashes following coordinated terror attacks in several parts of the country on April 25.

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