DAKAR: The UN peacekeeping mission said on Friday that one peacekeeper was killed and eight were seriously wounded in an attack in northern Mali.
The UN officials said on Twitter that a “complex assault” involving an improvised explosive device (IED) and direct fire attacked a patrol in the Timbuktu region. The mission added that the victims were from a contingent from Burkina Faso. MINUSMA head El-Ghassim Wane added he strongly condemned “this act against our patrol”.
One Peacekeeper Killed, 8 Injured in Mali: UN
El-Ghassim Wane said that this tragic loss was a stark reminder of the risks that their peacekeepers face while working to bring peace to the people of Mali. The African country has been grappling with the security crisis since 2012 when separatist rebellions broke out in the north, later spreading to Niger and Burkina Faso.
The militants linked with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group claim responsibility for several attacks, but self-proclaimed defense groups and outlaws also contribute to the wave of violence in the area.
The UN peacekeeping mission is a common target for militants in Mali. Since its formation in 2013, as many as 186 of its personnel have been killed in the region.
