A/HRC/23/57 also met with the Public Prosecutor of Commune III,3 the National Human Rights Commission, members of civil society and representatives of the diplomatic corps and United Nations agencies. II. Context A. Security situation and military operations in the north 7. The security situation in the north remains fragile and has been marked by cordonand-search operations carried out by the Malian Defence and Security Forces with assistance from French troops and the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) in Sévaré, Mopti, Ber, Timbuktu and Gao. At least 13 attacks have been logged since 12 March 2013, confirming the persistent threat of suicide and car bombing attacks perpetrated by armed groups such as Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) and Ansar Dine. 8. These attacks have had grave consequences for the human rights situation in the north of Mali, having caused the death of 24 persons since February 2013 as well as destroying property. They have also bred a climate of fear and generalized suspicion among the population which is fuelling more and more allegations based on a tendency not to distinguish between certain fair-skinned communities in the north and members of armed or rebel groups. 9. The main regions of the north have now been partially secured by the Malian army, following prior operations by military police detachments (prévotés), the French army and AFISMA troops. The exception is Kidal, which remains under the control of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA). On 11 April, four AFISMA soldiers were killed in a suicide attack in a Kidal market place. On 16 May 2013, there were clashes between MNLA combatants and the rival faction, the Arab Movement of Azawad (MAA), in Anefis, near Kidal. The number of victims in these clashes has not yet been confirmed. 10. Many areas in the north remain unsafe, especially rural areas and areas far from regional capitals. The armed groups, and in particular Ansar Dine, AQMI and MUJAO, retain the ability to cause harm, not only in the north but also in the south of the country and in the Sahel region. Since March, attacks by armed groups have been reported in the regions of Gao, Menaka and Timbuktu. B. The situation in Kidal 11. Kidal is the third largest town in the north and has been a cradle of successive Tuareg rebellions since Mali gained independence. It has not enjoyed the same degree of liberation as other localities in the north such as Gao and Timbuktu. Despite the presence of French and AFISMA troops, the town remains under the control of MNLA, which administers it autonomously through a governor. According to witness reports, the de facto authorities issue administrative documents stamped “State of Azawad” and the flag of Azawad is displayed throughout the Kidal region, including in Tessalit and the town of Kidal. These reports have been confirmed by a multidisciplinary AFISMA team including a representative of the Human Rights Division, which was able to visit Kidal, Tessalit, Timbuktu and Gao between 29 and 31 March 2013. 3 GE.13-15228 One of the six communes of Bamako. 5