At least three United Nations soldiers have been killed and five others seriously wounded by an explosive device that detonated as they were escorting a convoy in Mali, according to the West African nation’s peacekeeping mission, like reported by bernama.com.
The convoy was travelling between the towns of Anefis and Gao in Mali’s volatile north when the explosion occurred at around 07:00 GMT Sunday, a statement from the mission, MINUSMA, said, adding that the death toll was provisional.
“Our thoughts go firstly to the families and loved ones. We pledge our complete support to them during this painful ordeal,” Koen Davidse, the head of MINUSMA, said.
“The mission will use all means to ensure that justice is rendered.”
In a separate statement, the Bangladeshi armed forces said three of its soldiers had been killed and another four wounded when their vehicle hit the explosive device.
The blast came a day after Bangladeshi peacekeepers successfully fended off another armed attack, it said. On September 5, two MINUSMA peacekeepers were killed and another two seriously wounded in a similar attack on their vehicle which was part of a logistical convoy in the northeast.
There are frequent clashes between rival armed groups in northern Mali which is also a haven for jihadist activity. Since 2013, when MINUSMA was deployed in Mali, 80 peacekeepers have been killed, making it the most costly UN mission in terms of human life since Somalia (1993-1995).
In 2012, key cities fell under the control of Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist groups who exploited an ethnic Tuareg-led rebel uprising, leading to a French-led military intervention and the UN deployment a year later.
Although the militants were largely ousted, much of the region is lawless and attacks have continued on UN and French forces, civilians and the Malian army.
Last month, gunmen attacked the peacekeeping force’s headquarters in the northern city of Timbuktu killing at least seven people and injuring seven others. On June 8, at least three UN peacekeepers from Guinea were killed in an assault near their base in Kidal.
The violence has also prompted five West African countries, known as G5 Sahel, to launch a new multinational force to fight armed groups in the Sahel region.
The new regional anti-terror force is set to include as many as 5,000 soldiers, with one battalion each from Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad.
At the United Nations in New York, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres while condemning the latest attack reaffirmed the UN’s determination to support efforts aimed at restoring lasting peace and security in Mali and urged the Government and the signatory armed groups to expedite the implementation of the peace agreement.
“The Secretary-General recalls that Security Council resolution 2374 of 5 September 2017 provides for the imposition of sanctions against entities or individuals obstructing the implementation of the peace agreement and attacking United Nations personnel,” according to a statement issued by his spokesperson.
The Secretary-General extended his condolences to the Government of Bangladesh and to the bereaved families, and wished swift recovery to the injured.
In DHAKA, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the deaths of three Bangladeshi peacekeepers in an IED (improvised explosive device) blast in Mali.
In a condolence message, the prime minister recalled with deep gratitude the contribution of the Bangladeshi peacekeepers to maintaining peace in Mali.
“Their deaths are an irreparable loss to the world peace as well as Bangladesh,” she said.
The prime minister also prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved families.
Sheikh Hasina also wished early recovery of the injured Bangladeshi peacekeepers.
