3 Chadian peacekeepers killed Thursday in northern Mali

27 Octobre 2017

Bamako, Mali, October 27 (Infosplusgabon) -  Three Chadian peacekeepers of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) were killed on Thursday when their vehicle struck a mine on the Tessalit-Aguelhok axis, northern Mali, according to a communiqué from the UN Mission.

"Today around 2.30 pm, a MINUSMA Force vehicle escorting a logistics convoy hit a mine or improvised explosive device on the Tessalit-Aguelhok axis," MINUSMA said in the statement.

Three Chadian peacekeepers lost their lives and two others were injured in the explosion, according to the statement.

They were evacuated to Kidal, 1,600 km from the capital, Bamako.

MINUSMA Deputy Chief, Koen Davidse, condemned the attack which he said was designed to destabilize the country and undermine the ongoing peace process in Mali.

"My thoughts and sympathy go out to the families of the victims and the wounded," said Davidse, adding that the Mission "remains committed to continuing its efforts to consolidate peace in Mali."

MINUSMA recalled that attacks on peacekeepers could constitute war crimes under international law.

MINUSMA, the Malian armed forces and the populations are the target of frequent deadly attacks in the northern Mali (Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal), since the French, African and Malian forces drove away the jihadists from those areas they occupied from March 2012 to January 2013.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/ERD/ GABON 2017

© Copyright Infosplusgabon