GENEVA, Switzerland, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- A Sudanese human rights expert working for the United Nations announced plans Friday to examine violations of human rights law in post-conflict Mali.
Mali in January 2013 called for military support from former colonial power France to help fight al-Qaida and other rebels who seized territory in the north of the country following coups the previous year.
Suliman Baldo, a Sudanese human rights expert working as an independent analyst for the United Nations, said he was headed to Mali for a week-long mission next week to investigate human rights issues.
"My visit will provide an opportunity to stress the importance of accountability for the violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed by armed groups, and some elements of the Malian armed forces, in the north of the country since the beginning of the crisis," he said in a statement from Geneva, Switzerland.
Members of the United Nations last month said there were signs extremist groups were regrouping in parts of northern Mali.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said this week it "lost contact" Saturday with one of its vehicles traveling through northern Mali. Four ICRC staff members and a veterinary assistant were on board.
Christoph Luedi, head of the ICRC delegation in Mali, said in a statement the organization was "extremely worried" about their fate.
