Security Council ready to impose sanctions on Mali peace accord obstructers

The UN Security Council said Monday that it is ready to consider targeted sanctions against those who take actions to obstruct the implementation of Mali peace accord.

On June 20, Mali's main coalition of Tuareg separatist rebels signed the agreement on peace and reconciliation with the government more than one month after other armed groups in the country did so.

In a resolution adopted here, the 15-member body urged the government of Mali and armed groups in the country to fulfill their commitments under the agreement and fully uphold the ceasefire arrangements in the country.

The council "expresses its readiness to consider targeted sanctions against those who take actions to obstruct or threaten the implementation of the Agreement, those who resume hostilities and violate the ceasefire, as well as those who attack and take actions to threaten MINUSMA."

MINUSMA, namely the United Nations Multi-dimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, was established in 2013 with the mandate to support the political process in the country.

The resolution also extended the mandate of MINUSMA for a year until June 30, 2016 with the tasks including "to support, monitor and supervise" the implementation of the ceasefire arrangements as well as to support the implementation of the peace agreement.

Since the end of April, hostilities have resumed in northern Mali between Tuareg rebels pro-government militias. The UN has been calling for immediate end of fighting and urging armed groups in the country to address long-term crisis under the peace agreement.