Seven peacekeepers injured in the explosion of a mine in northern Mali

Seven Senegalese soldiers of the UN Integrated Mission for the stabilization of Mali (MINUSMA) were injured Friday when the vehicle carrying them jumped on a mine in Kidal in the north, said a UN source.

“This morning (Friday), around 8:30 am, an explosive or a mine exploded during the passage of a vehicle carrying troops of the Senegalese contingent MINUSMA around the track Kidal airport,” said a statement of the UN mission.

“The attack left seven injured, four had minor injuries and three others with fractures, will be transported to the hospital in Gao MINUSMA,” said the source.

The area where the explosion took place was immediately secured and an investigation by experts on the nature of the explosive used is underway, it is added.

On the other hand, the MINUSMA strongly condemned this dastardly terrorist attack against peacekeepers, it recalled, “came to Mali for the sole purpose of providing assistance to the authorities and people of Mali.”

The UN force, deployed in northern Mali since July 2013, has launched a “call for the perpetrators of these crimes are identified and held accountable for their actions in court.”

Northern Mali has known for several months an increase in armed attacks, often attributed to jihadist groups who occupied the region before being chased after international intervention, conducted in January 2013 by France.

Weakened, these groups still remain active in those areas where they regularly commit assaults, including against peacekeepers MINUSMA.