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1st LD Writethru: UN chief condemns attack on UN peacekeeping mission in Mali

Xinhua, August 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday condemned an attack against UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA, which killed one peacekeeper and injured four others.

Earlier on Sunday, an improvised explosive device attack against MINUSMA took place at south of Aguelhok, a town in the Kidal Region of eastern Mali. This attack followed a similar one on Friday which injured one peacekeeper near Kidal city.

"The Secretary-General underscores that attacks targeting United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law and calls for the perpetrators of this attack to be brought to justice," said a statement released by Ban's spokesperson.

Ban also said "the primary responsibility for peace lies with the Malian parties," and he urged them to fully implement the peace agreement and to do all they can to prevent such attacks.

MINUSMA has become a frequent target of terrorist attacks in Mali. So far, the mission has lost more than 60 lives, making it the UN's deadliest active mission.

This year in May alone, a series of attacks directed against the mission killed 12 peacekeepers and injured many more.

In late June, the UN Security Council decided to increase the force level of MINUSMA to counter grave security situation provoked by armed groups in the country.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the council also authorized MINUSMA to take all necessary means to carry out its mandate of supporting the implementation of Mali's peace agreement in a more proactive and robust manner. Endit