Improvised bomb kills UN peacekeepers in Mali

Two Egyptian peacekeepers have been killed by an improvised bomb in Mali.

The peacekeepers were killed when their armoured vehicle drove over an improvised explosive device, 60 km northeast of Gao.

Nine Egyptian soldiers were also seriously injured in the attack on a logistics convoy. They were serving with the UN Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

The attack has attracted strong condemnation from UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the UN Security Council.

A spokesperson for the Secretary-General said: “The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the Government and people of Egypt, whose soldiers continue to pay the highest price in the service of peace in Mali. He wishes a speedy recovery to the injured."

The statement also called for authorities to bring those responsible to justice swiftly.

The northern region of Mali has faced attacks from self-styled Islamic-State-affiliated terrorists who are established in the centre of the country, and in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.

MINUSMA said the attack may constitute a war crime and noted how attackers frequently used improvised explosive devices to try to “paralyze the operations of the UN Mission and to obstruct the return to peace and stability in Mali”.

177 MINUSMA soldiers have been killed since its establishment nearly 10 years ago.

Whilst condemning the attack, the UN Security Council expressed concern about the lack of security in Mali, which is facing political and humanitarian challenges after the military seized power in May last year. In March, an 18-month political transition agreement was extended to 24 months by the country’s military authorities. In January, military leaders announced that there would be a four year delay in the transition to elected civilian rule. Part of MINUSMA’s role in Mali is to provide support for free and fair elections.

The attack comes as the UN Secretary-General welcomed the lifting of sanctions imposed on Mali by the West African regional economic bloc, ECOWAS.

Mr Guterres also called on Mali’s partners to help implement reforms and for "the holding of the upcoming elections in full respect of principles of equity and freedom”.

He said that the 2015 Peace and Reconciliation Agreement remains a key foundational document for Mali and called on all the signatory parties to “redouble” their efforts to implement the deal, including by holding a high-level meeting on the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of former fighters to civilian life.

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