UNITED NATIONS, July 22 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday condemned recent fighting erupted in northern Mali between two armed groups signatory to Mali's ceasefire agreement.
On Thursday, fighting broke out in Kidal, a town in Mali's desert north, between pro-government militia fighters and Tuareg rebels, Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA).
Ban said the fighting violates Mali's ceasefire deal reached in June 2015, and he called upon leaders of the two groups to restore calm, according to a statement released by his spokesperson.
Ban also urged the signatory parties to "take necessary steps for the swift and full implementation of the peace agreement, including the immediate establishment of interim authorities and security arrangements," said the statement.
On May 15, 2015, in absence of the Mali's main rebel coalition CMA, which include three major rebel groups in northern Mali, Mali's government signed the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation with pro-government militias as well as some of the country's minor rebel groups.
On June 20, CMA signed the agreement in the African country's capital Bamako, completing the signing process of the accord that is aimed at ending hostilities and launching development programs in the troubled northern Mali, as well as restoring peace and stability to the nation.
