The United Nations Mission in Mali had stated that one of the organization’s peacekeepers was killed and 4 others were seriously injured, Saturday, in an explosive device explosion near Tessalit, in the northeast of the country, near the Algerian border.
A statement published by Guterres’ spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, quoted that the Secretary-General of the United Nations expressed his “deep condolences to the family of the victim, as well as to the Egyptian government and people,” and affirmed “the solidarity of the United Nations with the government and people of Mali.”
Noting that attacks on peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law, Guterres called on the Malian authorities to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of these attacks for prosecution, as stated in the statement.
For his part, the commander of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) said in a statement, “This incident is a sad reminder of the enduring danger surrounding peacekeepers and the sacrifices made for peace in Mali.”
“Today’s cowardly attack reinforces the mission’s determination to support Mali and its people in their pursuit of peace and stability,” he added.
4 Chadian peacekeepers were killed in April in a jihadist attack on their camp in Aghlhoek, also in northeastern Mali.
MINUSMA, which has been deployed in Mali since 2013, is the most international peace mission that has witnessed casualties among its members, as 145 of them were killed in hostilities as of August 31, according to a United Nations census.
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