Islamist Insurgency: UN peacekeepers killed in Mali
UN Peacekeeping Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) says its convoy hit an improvised explosive device in the north of Mopti on Monday, killing at least two ‘blue helmets’ from Egypt and wounding four others.
MINUSMA, in a statement, said the peacekeepers were part of a logistics convoy on its way to Timbuktu.
The UN Special Representative and head of MINUSMA, El-Ghassim Wane, strongly condemned the attack in the volatile central region of Mali, where government forces have been fighting an Islamist insurgency for the past decade.
MINUSMA said Mr Wane “recalls that attacks targeting United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law.”
It added, “He calls on the Malian authorities to spare no effort to identify the perpetrators of these attacks so that they can be quickly brought to justice.”
He stressed that this latest attack, like the others that preceded it, “is a further reminder of the urgent need for even more sustained efforts to stabilise central Mali.”
In a tweet, the MINUSMA head reinforced that blue helmet, in what continues to be the most dangerous UN peacekeeping operation in the world, faced a “daily threat as we strive to further peace in Mali.”
No fewer than 250 UN peacekeepers have died since 2013.
In a separate attack on Monday on government forces, at least two soldiers died in the northern region of Gao, just three days after another clash with insurgents left 27 dead and 32 wounded, according to news reports.
UN Peacekeeping chief, Jean Pierre Lacroix, tweeted his “most sincere condolences to the Egyptian Government, people, and the families of the two who lost their lives, in service of peace. These crimes must not go unpunished.”
The growing insecurity in the central region has fed the humanitarian crisis in the country, along with deep political uncertainty, following military coups in 2020 and 2021.
In February, the UN launched its 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan, seeking $686 million from donors to help more than five million of Mali’s most vulnerable citizens.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Lagos
Lagos urges anti-harassment policies to protect women, workers
She noted that women accounted for more than 90 per cent of the reported workplace harassment cases.
States
Flooding: Ekiti LG boss warns residents against building structures on waterways
“We will no longer tolerate lawlessness and violations of government directives stating that nobody should build houses on waterways,” she said.
States
Ogun govt threatens to close markets over indiscriminate dumping of waste
Mr Akintunde described the practice of dumping refuse in markets rather than at designated collection points as unacceptable.
Politics
2027: PDP uploads presidential, National Assembly candidates’ names on INEC portal
The PDP uploaded the names of its 2027 presidential, vice-presidential, and NASS candidates to the INEC nomination portal.
Economy
Car dealers express mixed reactions to lower vehicle import duties
Import duty on used vehicles was recently reviewed from 15 per cent to five per cent, while brand new vehicles dropped from 20 per cent to 10 per cent.
Africa
Assets of illegal Nigerian immigrants proceeds of crimes, will be sold to compensate our citizens, says South African govt
She said Nigerians who stayed in the country illegally will not be compensated for the assets and properties they are leaving behind.
