Mali: UN mission chief 'outraged' by attack against base that kills three peacekeepers

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2016-02-12

The top United Nations official in Mali said he is “outraged” by an attack earlier on 12 February against a UN camp in Kidal, in the north-eastern region of the country, which killed at least three peacekeepers and wounded 30 others.

“My duty, on behalf of the Secretary-General, is to express our outrage over this hateful and irresponsible act occurring a week after the local arrangements between the Coordination of Movements of Azawad (CMA) and Platform, and 48 hours after my visit to Kidal,” said Mahamat Saleh Annadif, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Mali, in a press release.

According to the statement, at 7 a.m. this morning, the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) camp in the northern region of the country was the target of a “complex attack.”

Expressing deep condolences to the families of the victims and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured, Mr. Annadif emphasized that the “serious act” reflects “the disarray of the enemies of peace,” since it comes at a time when the implementation of the peace agreement increasingly becomes a reality in Mali.

This past June, a peace agreement was signed by the CMA, following its signature in May 2015 by the Government and a third party, the Platform coalition of armed groups.

The Government of Mali, with the support of MINUSMA as well as UN agencies and programmes, has been seeking to restore stability and rebuild following a series of setbacks since early 2012, including a military coup d'état, and renewed fighting between Government forces and Tuareg rebels.

Source: United Nations

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