UN urges Mali government to hold presidential vote in July
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The U.N. peacekeeping chief is urging Mali's government to do everything possible to hold presidential elections on schedule in mid-July.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix told the Security Council on Tuesday that last week's adoption of a timeline for the government, Tuareg separatists, and armed groups to implement a June 2015 peace agreement by the end of March was an important step.
He said this should lead to progress on a host of issues including reform of the security sector and establishing security conditions for the presidential vote as well as local and regional elections in April.
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Lacroix said "it's urgent that we confront the fact that we're racing against time in Mali. We are confronting increasing insecurity."
Mali has been in turmoil since a 2012 uprising that led to an Islamic insurgency.