Cote d'Ivoire: MISAHEL chief appeals for immediate ceasefire in northern Mali

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (PANA) – The African Union (AU) senior representative for Mali and the Sahel, Pierre Buyoya, on Thursday called for unconditional and immediate ceasefire from the outbreak of new violence in the Malian northern city of Kidal.

Buyoya, also the AU chief of mission for Mali and Sahel (MISAHEL), according to a statement here, also called on gthe warring parties to return to the pre-16 May positions.

The violence broke out on 16 May while the Malian Prime minister, Moussa Mara, was visiting Kidal.

Buyoya said the violence can only be resolved through the letters of the Ouagadougou agreement.

In that respect, he expressed satisfaction with President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita's appeal for dialogue and peace in his address to the nation on Monday.

The MISAHEL chief also expressed deep concern about the serious consequences which the new outbreak of hostilities would have on the populations.
-0- PANA BAL/BEH/MSA/VAO 22May2014