A patrol of the UN mission in Mali was attacked early on Tuesday morning in Aguel hoc in the Kidal region. According to a UN source reached in Kidal, the attackers launched rockets into the village which was being crisscrossed by the peacekeepers. These rockets were followed by other firearms. « There were exchanges of fire and two peacekeepers were killed », adds our source.
Other reports indicate that several attackers were captured by UN forces. Information that we were not able to verify with the mission in Bamako where we tried to reach the heads of the communication cell. However, in a statement, Minusma confirmed the attack adding that another peacekeeper was wounded. But it did not say anything about the attackers who had been captured.
#Mali: Attack against #MINUSMA in #Aguelhok ~7h this morning, at least 1 dead & 1 wounded, 4 individuals subsequently arrested – @issalan
— MENASTREAM (@MENASTREAM) 23 mai 2017
Affrontements à Adjeulhock entre le contingent Tchadien et les terroristes 2 morts côté minusma et +sieurs terroristes arrêtés.
— Fahad Ag Almahmoud (@Idarfa) 23 mai 2017
This attack is the third in less than a month after those in Timbuktu on May 3 and 16. In total, a peacekeeper was killed and thirteen others wounded during these two attacks. In Mali since 2013 following the French intervention, Minusma is considered to be the « most dangerous » mission in the history of the United Nations in peacekeeping operations.
Aboubacar DickoTranslated by Mahaitou Ibrahim Maiga