UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Security Council on Monday condemned "in the strongest terms" the "barbaric and cowardly" terror attack in Burkina Faso, which killed at least 18 people.
"The members of the Security Council expressed their solidarity with Burkina Faso in its fight against terrorism and stressed the need to intensify regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism, which may be conducive to terrorism," said the council in a press statement.
The members of the Security Council commended the efforts of the region, including through the development of a multinational military force, in order to address the transnational dimension of the terrorist threat in the Sahel region, and encouraged further progress in this regard, said the statement.
The five African countries of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger agreed in February to establish a multinational military force, G5 Sahel Joint Force, to fight Islamist militants in the Sahel region. France agreed to provide substantial aid in early July.
A group of gunmen attacked a Turkish restaurant in downtown Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso, on Sunday night, leaving 18 people dead and as many people wounded.
The council members reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.
They reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.
They reaffirmed the need for all states to combat by all means, in accordance with the UN Charter and other obligations under international law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
They underlined the need to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of terrorist acts to justice, and urged all states to cooperate actively with the government of Burkina Faso and all other relevant authorities in this regard.
