12 UN peacekeepers killed in Mali over week

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA

At least 12 UN peacekeeping personnel were killed and scores of others injured in two separate attacks over the past week, a statement said.

“Two peacekeepers from the MINUSMA were killed on Friday following an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack against a convoy near Douentza, in the Mopti region, central Mali,” said the statement issued by the UN on Saturday evening.

The Friday attacked followed a similar one on Jan. 20 when 10 peacekeepers from Chad were killed in a “terrorist” attack against the mission’s camp in Aguelhok, in the Kidal region of Mali, the statement added.

UN Security Council established “United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali” (MINUSMA) in April 2013 to “support political processes in that country and carry out a number of security-related tasks”.

MINUSMA is the deadliest UN peacekeeping, with 177 fatalities since 2013. It is also one of the largest missions, with over 15,000 personnel.