The UN’s Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said that the UN could authorise a 3,300 strong African Union mission to support Mali’s military against rebels in the north of the country.
He said it could "restore the unity and territorial integrity of Mali and reduce the threats posed by terrorist and affiliated groups and transnational organised crime".
Mr Ban warned of the “pitfalls” of such a move, saying that "the focus must be on initiating a broad-based and inclusive political dialogue".
"Fundamental questions on how the force would be led, sustained, trained, equipped and financed remain unanswered," he said.
"I am profoundly aware that if a military intervention in the north is not well conceived and executed, it could worsen an already fragile humanitarian situation and also result in severe human rights abuses.”
