3 UN peacekeepers killed in northern Mali attack

October 27, 2017 10:14 am | Updated 10:14 am IST - Bamako:

In this September 27, 2017 file photo, U.N. Peacekeepers from Bangladesh attend a memorial ceremony for their comrades, who were killed by an explosive device in northern Mali, at the MINUSMA base in Bamako, Mali.

In this September 27, 2017 file photo, U.N. Peacekeepers from Bangladesh attend a memorial ceremony for their comrades, who were killed by an explosive device in northern Mali, at the MINUSMA base in Bamako, Mali.

Three UN peacekeepers from Chad were killed and two others injured when their logistics convoy was attacked in northern Mali, the United Nations said.

The UN Security Council and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack on the road between Tessalit and Aguelhok.

The UN peacekeeping mission said the wounded peacekeepers were evacuated to the city of Kidal for treatment.

The Security Council stressed that “any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable” and called on the government of Mali to swiftly investigate the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The UN’s most powerful body and the secretary-general underlined that attacks targeting peacekeepers “may constitute war crimes under international law.”

Mr. Guterres urged Mali’s government and armed groups to accelerate implementation of a peace agreement, UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said.

The 12,000-strong UN peacekeeping mission in Mali has become the most dangerous in the world as Islamic militants routinely attack U.N. convoys across the north.

At least 80 peacekeepers have died in “malicious acts” since the mission was established in 2013, according to UN peacekeeping data as of the end of August.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.