A representative for the UN reported that on Monday, three United Nations peacekeepers were killed and three others suffered critical injuries when their vehicle collided with an IED in northern Mali.
In the past ten years, insurgents in northern Mali have been fighting, some of whom have ties to the Islamic State and al Qaeda.
In the northern Kidal region commune of Tessalit, the peacekeepers were conducting a mine search and detection patrol when they were struck, according to Stephane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the organisation.
“We send our deepest condolences to the families of the peacekeepers, to our colleagues in the mission and we wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured,” Dujarric said.
Around 12,000 military forces are now stationed in Mali as part of MINUSMA, the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission.
The deadliest U.N. operation has seen at least 174 peacekeepers murdered in hostile activities in Mali since it began in 2013. the global purpose of maintaining peace.
Meanwhile, in the East African nation of Ethiopia, a humanitarian worker was one of three individuals killed following an airstrike on the town of Shire in northern Tigray, Ethiopia.
The aid worker, who was a member of IRC’s health and nutrition team, passed away on Friday as a result of wounds he received while providing help to women and children, IRC said in a statement.