UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday that insecurity in Africa's Sahel region was driving a humanitarian emergency.

Guterres said the situation in Mali had "seriously deteriorated" since late April following an intense wave of terrorist attacks.

The coordinated attacks were conducted by an Al Qaeda-linked terrorist group and Tuareg-led separatists.

The April 25 and 26 attacks targeted strategic towns and killed the country's defence minister.

Humanitarian emergency

"The deteriorating security situation has created a humanitarian emergency marked by growing violence against civilians, widespread displacement and growing food insecurity," Guterres told reporters in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, where he co-chaired an African Union–United Nations conference.

The UN chief said the situation in Mali had declined following an "operational alliance" between terrorists and separatists.

Since April 30, terrorists have blocked several key routes leading into Mali’s capital, Bamako, which relies heavily on road imports.

Guterres urges collaboration in counterterrorism efforts

Several dozen people have been killed in terrorist attacks in central Mali in May.

Guterres called for dialogue and collaboration among countries in the region to address "violent extremism and terrorism."