Two peacekeepers from the UN mission in Mali (Minusma) were killed and four others seriously injured on Monday by the explosion of an improvised explosive device in the north of the country, Minusma said on Twitter.
The soldiers were killed “when their vehicle jumped on an improvised explosive device during a demining patrol in Tessalit, in the Kidal region,” said Minusma.
The blue helmets were part of the Chadian contingent of the Minusma, reported on condition of anonymity an agent of the mission camp in Kidal.
“Improvised explosive devices are one of the most serious threats facing our colleagues”, recalled on Twitter the head of Minusma, El Ghassim Wane, who praised “their courage and (their) sense of duty”.
Improvised explosive devices (IED) have caused the death of 74 blue helmets since the start of the mission in 2013, counted the Minusma.
They also hit civilians. Eleven of them were killed and dozens of others injured last week in the Mopti region (center) when the bus carrying them hit an explosive device.
Mali has been plagued by jihadist attacks and many other types of violence since 2012.
The Minusma is with the Malian forces one of the main targets of the jihadists who aim at the foreign presence and the symbols of the State. Minusma, with around 12,000 troops deployed in Mali, is the deadliest UN mission in the world. Since its creation in 2013, 179 of its members have died in hostile acts.
Mines and IEDs are one of the weapons of choice for jihadists. They explode on contact with a wheel or are operated remotely.
A Minusma report as of August 31 counted 245 IED and mine attacks in 2021 and 134 in 2022. Mines and IEDs killed 103 in 2021 and 72 in 2022, the report said. Almost three quarters of the victims are in the ranks of the Malian army and international forces, more than a quarter among civilians, according to the report.