Jihadists attack luxury resort near Mali capital

According to an UN mission official, the terror attack is underway at the resort area in Mali's capital while the government in Mali said an operation is underway.

According to reports several gunmen have attacked the resort Le Campement, outside capital Bamako. The country has been combating an Islamist insurgency for several years.

“Security forces are in place. Campement Kangaba is blocked off and an operation is under way,” said Malian security ministry spokesman Baba Cisse, according to The Independent.

According to BBC, residents near the resort heard shots being fired at Le Campement resort in Dougourakoro, which is to the east of  Bamako.

Reports said the Malian troops and soldiers from France's Bakhane counter-terrorist force are at the site with no figure of casualty yet known.

Despite progress towards peace in Mali, terrorist attacks remain a major obstacle, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping operation there told the Security Council only this Friday.

Mahamat Saleh Annadif, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission, known by its French acronym, MINUSMA, reported significant progress on implementing the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation over the past months, but agreed that terrorists and extremists were gaining ground as existing tensions threatened to derail achievements.

“Mali's central region is a continuing source of concern,” said Annadif as he encouraged the Council to focus on the pressing security challenges and “to send a strong message that civilian killings must end” while considering the renewal of MINUSMA's mandate.

Image: Of the resort from their official website / A UN peacekeeping force image