Visit to Bamako by Said Djinnit, the UN Special Representative for West Africa

Dakar, 7 april 2011 - The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa, Said Djinnit, visited Bamako, Mali, on 6-7 April, to reiterate the United Nations firm position on the need for an early return to constitutional order and respect for unity and territorial integrity of Mali. His visit was undertaken as a follow up to the consultations held in recent days by the UN Secretary-General BAN Ki-moon with a number of West African leaders with regard to the situation in Mali. It was also intended to support, on the ground, mediation efforts led by President Compaoré of Burkina Faso on behalf of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).