Two UN peacekeepers killed in Mali attack

WORLD, Dec. 17 (YPA) – At least two peacekeepers were killed and four others from the UN mission in Mali (MINUSMA) were wounded on Friday after an unidentified gunman opened fire on their patrol in Timbuktu town, the mission said on Twitter.

Four other peacekeepers were injured, one of them seriously. They are currently receiving appropriate care at the MINUSMA military hospital in Timbuktu, according to the head of MINUSMA, El-Ghassim Wane.

El-Ghassim Wane, said he was “deeply shocked” by this heinous act, which he strongly condemned.

He offers his deepest condolences to the government of the deceased peacekeepers, as well as to their families and brothers in arms, and wish a speedy recovery to the four other injured peacekeepers.

“Despite the prevailing difficult operational environment, MINUSMA will spare no effort to carry out its mandate,” he added.

He stresses the need to do everything possible to identify the perpetrators of this act and bring them to justice, recalling that attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law.

The United Nations has about 12,000 troops in Mali, and its mission in the country has suffered the world’s heaviest losses in recent years.

E.M