ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) on Thursday strongly condemned two recent separate terrorist attacks that targeted the Malian Armed Forces as well as a G5 Sahel Force battalion.
The statement was made by the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, following the two terrorist attacks on a Malian G5 Sahel unit position in Boulkessi and the Malian Armed Forces in Mondoro that were perpetrated in central Mali on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
"The Chairperson strongly condemns the terrorist attacks perpetrated on September 30 and October 1, 2019 against the Malian armed forces and one of their G5 Sahel Force battalion in the Boulkessi region and Mondoro," the 55-member pan African bloc said in a statement issued on Thursday.
"The AU Commission Chairperson offers his deepest condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and wishes a speedy recovery to the wounded," the statement read.
The continental bloc also vowed its "full solidarity" with the government of Mali and the countries contributing troops for the G5 Sahel force.
Faki further stressed that "these attacks are a reminder of the urgent need for strong and effective support from the international community for the efforts of the countries in the region in their fight against terrorism."
The number of casualties from the two terrorist attacks is yet to be confirmed.
The UN Integrated Multidimensional Stabilization Mission in Mali also in a statement issued on Thursday said that it is "dismayed by the toll of the simultaneous terrorist attacks on a Malian G5 Sahel unit position in Boulkessi and the Malian Armed Forces in Mondoro."
"The Mission condemns with the utmost energy these attacks, which occurred only a few days after the 74th United Nations General Assembly, where security in Mali and the Sahel was given an important place on the agenda of several high-level meetings attended by Heads of State of the region," the statement read.
It also stressed that "these acts of terror will not hinder the joint efforts of the Malian government and its partners for peace and security." Enditem