[JURIST] The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) [official website] passed Resolution 2056 [text] on Thursday to address the continued hostilities in the country of Mali [JURIST news archive] and demand the violence come to an end. The unanimously adopted resolution [UN News Centre report] addresses continued humanitarian concerns and discourages rebel groups from associating with Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), a listed terrorist oraganization. Member states were also asked to submit names of known individuals and groups associated with the AQIM in order for sanctions to be used. The resolution focused on ending the conflict and restoring peace to the region, “recognizing the importance of supporting peace building efforts in order to achieve further progress in the stabilization of the country” by stressing economic development and international support in early recovery activities. Fighting resumed in Mali in January and since has uprooted nearly 320,000 people. The UNSC stated they would continue to examine the matter and encouraged close cooperation between Malian transitional authorities and other countries.

Earlier this week the International Criminal Court (ICC) [official website; JURIST backgrounder] Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda [official profile] told reporters that attacks by Islamist rebels on religious monuments [JURIST report] in Mali will not be tolerated. In May Amnesty International (AI) [advocacy website] released a report saying that Mali is facing its worst human rights crisis [JURIST report] since it gained independence in 1960. Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] released a similar report in April claiming that all sides to the conflict are committing war crimes [JURIST report]. Earlier in April the ICC said they would monitor the situation [JURIST report] in Mali for potential crimes under the ICC’s jurisdiction. The turmoil began when Taureg rebels attacked Malian soldiers [Al Jazeera report]. Many in the international community have expressed concern over the situation, including the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) [JURIST reports]. All of this has come after Malian soldiers took control of the government [JURIST report] and suspended the constitution in March.