[JURIST] United Nations (UN) [offical website] Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [official profile] on Friday expressed concern [UN report] over attacks in Mali in which members of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) [advocacy website] were specifically targeted, resulting in numerous casualties. So far, the UN has reported that several separate attacks have been orchestrated against peacekeepers in the region. On Thursday seven peacekeepers were injured when one of their vehicles struck an explosive device. The attack on Thursday was preceded by three separate attacks, one on April 15, one on the 17th, and one on the 20th. The Secretary- General noted that such attacks were violative of international law and that those responsible would be brought to justice. He concluded expressing his “profound gratitude” for the peacekeepers serving in the Mail region and the nations who have sent troops to the region as well.

Following the armed rising against the Malian government in early 2012, the nation has experienced significant turmoil relating to the exercise of power by the Malian government and opposing forces. Earlier this month,Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] expressed concern [press release, JURIST report] over the increased violence and human rights abuses committed in Mali. Also earlier this month a UN internal inquiry concluded [JURIST report] that members of MINUSMA used “unauthorized and excessive force” resulting in the deaths of three civilian protesters and the injuries of four other individuals in January. Earlier in April the Taureg-led rebels in Mali met with [Reuters report] Algerian mediators to discuss terms of preliminary peace deals, the same deals they rejected last month. Those rebels are currently in fights with French and U.N. troops in northern Mali, seeking autonomy for the Azawad desert region. In March of last year, UN rights experts urged [JURIST report] Mali to strengthen its judicial system due to the difficulty faced in attempting to prosecute war crimes in the nation, and called on MINUSMA to assist. In November 2014 General Amadou Haya Sanogo, the leader of the March 2012 coup, was arrested [JURIST report] on charges of murder, complicity to murder, assassination and kidnapping. In March 2013 Malian Tuareg rebels called on the ICC [JURIST report] to investigate alleged war crimes committed by Malian government forces during the conflict.