UN chief welcomes signing of peace accord in Mali

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon has welcomed the signing of a peace accord by the Malian government and armed groups in Mali's capital of Bamako, media reported on Saturday.

Mail's government on Friday signed the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation with pro-government militias as well as some minor rebel groups in a ceremony held in Bamako in absence of the country's main rebel group, the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA), Xinhua news agency reported.

The peace accord is meant to stabilize the situation in the country's north.

"The Secretary-General notes that today's signature by some of the parties is an important step on the path towards sustainable peace," said a statement released by Ban's spokesperson. 

"He conveys his sincere hope that other parties to the Algiers political process will adhere to the agreement as soon as possible."

Mali's Tuareg-led CMA announced earlier this week its decision to sign the agreement, but said "as for the date of May 15, 2015, which was fixed for signing of the final document and was arrived at without prior consultation with CMA, the group is not concerned with it and therefore it will not be present." 

The CMA signed up to a preliminary peace agreement with the government in Algiers on Thursday but said "some of its aspects need to be worked on with the mediators and the Mali government".

Ban welcomed the initialing of the agreement by the Coordination coalition of armed groups, saying he firmly believes that the agreement is a strong basis on which to build a just and lasting peace in Mali. 

He also called on the parties to keep the agreement open to the adhesion of outstanding parties and to continue dialogue in view of securing the signature of all parties as soon as possible.

At the end of last month, hostilities resumed in northern Mali between Tuareg rebels and pro-government militias. 

UN Security council has been calling for immediate end of fighting and urging the CMA to sign the peace accord, brokered by Algeria under the auspices of the United Nations, to address the long-term crisis in the country.