The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, emphasised on Monday 4 April his concerns about possible abuses happening earlier last week in the village of Moura, in the Malian region of Mopti.
Operations carried out by Malian armed forces and supported by Russian mercenaries have reportedly resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people.
“These new allegations of abuses – following the events in Nampala, Dogofry and Diabaly for which preliminary investigations have not yet been made public – further weaken stability and endanger coexistence between different communities”, Borrell warned in a statement. He said it was essential for MINUSMA to be able to access the scene of the events in order to support the transitional authorities in their investigation. Similarly, it is also essential that the findings of these investigations are made public so that those responsible are brought to justice, the High Representative added.
Mr Borrell noted that the fight against terrorism could never justify massive violations of human rights. “The exemplary behaviour of the state and its security forces, whose primary mandate is to protect the civilian population, cannot be an exception. Impunity must be fought with both severity and urgency”, he explained. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)