The United Nations has urged Malian authorities to act swiftly to apprehend those responsible for separate attacks on Thursday against peacekeepers under the U.N. Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), a statement has said.
The first attack occurred in the Kidal region and killed an Egyptian and seriously injured another peacekeeper, while the second attack that was carried out in Timbuktu and wounded at least one Burkinabe peacekeeper.
The U.N. Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families as well as the people and Governments of Egypt and Mali.
On his part, MINUSMA Force Commander, Dennis Gyllensporre, also expressed his condolences, and underlined the Mission’s determination to carry out its mandate.
MINUSMA has operated in Mali since 2013 following a military coup and the occupation of the north by radical Islamists.
The statement issued by Stéphane Dujarric, the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António, said, “The Secretary-General strongly condemns the two attacks that were perpetrated against the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) on 15 October. In Kidal region, an explosive device hit a Mission vehicle killing one Egyptian peacekeeper and seriously injuring another. In Timbuktu, an indirect fire attack against the Mission’s integrated camp resulted in at least one Burkinabe peacekeeper wounded.
“These incidents come three days after 12 civilians and at least 11 soldiers of the Malian Defence and Security Forces had been killed in attacks in central Mali.
“The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the people and Governments of Egypt and Mali. He extends his sympathies to the bereaved families and wishes a swift recovery to the injured.
“The Secretary-General recalls that attacks targeting United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law. He calls on the Malian authorities to take urgent steps to apprehend and swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice.”