New Delhi (NVI): India today strongly condemned the attack on the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) on January 13 in Timbuktu region in Mali that resulted in the killing of four peacekeepers from Cote d’Ivoire.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the peacekeepers as well as the people and the Government of Cote d’Ivoire and wish for the speedy recovery of all the other injured peacekeepers,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
Four United Nations peacekeepers in Mali were killed and five others wounded in an attack by unidentified armed elements on Wednesday, the UN mission in the country has said.
The peacekeepers’ convoy was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED), and the troops then came under attack by unidentified gunmen in the vast Timbuktu region, UN said in its report.
A robust response by the peacekeepers forced the attackers to flee, and the wounded personnel were evacuated by helicopter, the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) said in a news release on Wednesday.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has also strongly condemned the attack and called on Malian authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson on Wednesday, the UN chief emphasized that “attacks against UN peacekeepers may constitute a war crime.”
He urged the Malian authorities “to spare no efforts in identifying and promptly bringing to justice the perpetrators of this heinous attack.” Guterres also reaffirmed the solidarity of the United Nations with the people and Government of Mali.
The attack against MINUSMA peacekeepers took place the same day as another attack on the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (known by its French acronym, MINUSCA), in which a Rwandan peacekeeper was killed, the UN report said.
-ARK
