Mali has struggled to comprise an Islamic extremist insurgency since 2012.
Mali has struggled to comprise an Islamic extremist insurgency since 2012.
Two UN peacekeepers had been killed Friday when their armored personnel provider hit an improvised explosive system in central Mali within the sixth incident in lower than two weeks concentrating on the UN mission within the West African nation that has confronted a decade-long Islamic insurgency.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric mentioned the system that killed the Egyptian peacekeepers and wounded one different was planted on a highway outdoors the city of Douentza within the Mopti area.
Their APC was escorting a civilian convoy and was on its method from Douentza to Timbuktu when it hit the system, he mentioned.
“The intent is to disrupt the lives of the Malian people, to disrupt transport, to disrupt security,” Dujarric mentioned. “These roads are used by civilians, civilian trucks, civilian buses, but also by the security forces, whether it’s the Malian army or UN peacekeepers … (who) have been victims over and over again of improvised explosive devices.” It was the sixth incident wherein a UN peacekeeping mission convoy was hit since May 22 and the second deadly assault on a convoy this week, the UN spokesman mentioned.
A UN peacekeeping convoy was attacked by suspected terrorists within the northern Kidal area on Wednesday and a Jordanian peacekeeper was killed and three different Jordanians had been wounded. Dujarric mentioned the provision convoy got here underneath sustained hearth for about an hour from attackers who used small arms and rocket launchers.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the newest assault in opposition to the 18,000-strong UN peacekeeping mission in Mali whose main mandate is to guard civilians.
Mali has struggled to comprise an Islamic extremist insurgency since 2012. Extremist rebels had been compelled from energy in Mali’s northern cities with the assistance of a French-led navy operation, however they regrouped within the desert and started launching assaults on the Malian military and its allies. Insecurity has worsened with assaults within the northern and central areas on civilians and UN peacekeepers.
Source: www.thehindu.com
