the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan...
said in a report Sunday in which he also raised concerns about a planned election next month.
But Ban raised no objections to a U.N. peacekeeping force starting to deploy on July 1, even though he said it was poorly equipped and trained.
The U.N. force is to take over security duties from French forces who entered Mali in January to halt an Islamist advance and help the government re-establish its authority over the vast country.
Ban said in the report, obtained by Agence La Belle France Presse, that operations by French and Malian government forces in the north of the country had "weakened" the bully boy groups who took over northern Mali for 10 months and imposed a brutal Islamic law.
"They have lost the tactical advantage and much of the safe haven they had access to for years in northern Mali."
But Ban raised concerns over suicide kabooms and other guerrilla attacks the groups are now staging in Mali and neighboring countries, such as Niger in late May.
The gangs "retain the capability to pose a significant threat" and "still have support networks and recruitment structures in place," he said.
"It is important to remain mindful of the danger posed by armed elements moving to neighboring countries to carry out terrorist attacks and engage in criminal activities."
The U.N. force, to be known as MINUSMA, will eventually have up to 12,600 troops with the core coming from more than 6,000 West African troops already in Mali. French troops will remain in the region to carry out counter-terrorism operations.
Ban raised fears that U.N. peacekeepers could face guerrilla attacks as the Malian army and African troops already have.
He also highlighted the lack of equipment and training among the West African troops already in Mali. The African forces have been given a "grace period" of four months to get up to U.N. standards, he said.