On Wednesday, a UN mission camp in Mali came under « mortar » or « rocket » fire in Timbuktu, northern Mali, local sources said.
The attack took place around 13h. In a statement, the UN mission reported that six shells landed in the camp. « The provisional record is nine wounded among the peacekeepers, including four serious cases, who are being evacuated to Bamako. The attack has killed one whose identification is ongoing » says the statement which Sahelien.com received a copy.
No civilian personnel were affected but material damage was reported. « The Force has reinforced the protection of the camp and has deployed reconnaissance planes to identify the area where the shots were fired », specifies the note
The UN mission condemns this attack and « calls for the deployment of all efforts to identify the responsible people and bring them to justice ».
This attack is the third in a few days after two others against the Malian army at Gourma Rahrous, still in the Timbuktu region and in Segou, in the center.
In northern Mali, occupied in 2012 by numerous terrorist groups, international and Malian forces are regularly victims of armed attacks. The French intervention in 2013 did not allow to completely expel these groups from the vast Malian desert. Also, delays in the implementation of the peace agreement promote the multiplication of armed groups on the ground and undermine peace efforts.