Armed assailants attacked a forward base of the UN mission (Minusma) in Kerena, near Douentza in Mali’s central Mopti region on Wednesday, February 10, injuring some 20 peacekeepers.
“The robust response of the peacekeepers repelled the attackers, who fled. Following the attack and according to a provisional assessment, about twenty peacekeepers were wounded” in this “complex attack” that occurred this morning at about 7 a.m., Minusma said in a statement.
According to Mahamat Saleh Annadif, the head of the UN Mission in Mali, peacekeeping operations have been underway for several months in this part of the country.
“The main objective is to help reduce violence against the population, bring calm to areas where community tensions are reported, and reduce the threat of improvised explosive devices, as is the case in the region of Douentza. These operations disturb the enemies of peace, but we remain committed to stand by the Malians, for the Malians,” the communiqué continued.
In this insecure region, nine Malian soldiers were killed and six others wounded in a February 3 attack on their post.