Jihadists kill Nigerian soldier, injure others in Mali
http://www.hrlnews.com/2019/05/jihadists-kill-nigerian-soldier-injure.html
A Nigerian soldier was killed and another compatriot was injured in
two attacks on the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, UN officials said on
Sunday.
Gunmen attacked the UN troops in Timbuktu in the north of the
country, where several groups of militants are active, according to
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.
The Nigerian peacekeepers attacked have not been identified.
A further three UN soldiers from Chad were injured in Tessalit in the
northern Kidal region near the border with Algeria when their vehicle
drove over an explosive device.
The UN chief, Antonio Guterres expressed his “heartfelt condolences”
to the bereaved family and the Government of Nigeria and “wished a
speedy recovery to another Nigerian peacekeeper who was wounded in the
same attack”.
He also wished a “swift recovery to three Chadian peacekeepers”, who
were wounded when their mine-protected vehicle hit an improvised
explosive device in Tessalit, Kidal region.
Condemning the violence, Guterres said such attacks on UN soldiers could be considered war crimes under international law.
Mali has experienced sporadic attacks by armed groups since a 2012
coup that helped separatist rebels and groups associated with al-Qaeda
gain a foothold in the country’s restive north.
A UN peacekeeping mission has been active in Mali since 2013.
There have been repeated attacks on the mission in the north of the
country by the militants, while ethnic conflicts in the centre flare up
regularly
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has condemned in the strongest
term, the attacks on the UN Peace Keepers that led to the death of the
Nigerian soldier.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this in a statement by its Acting Spokesperson, Friday Akpan, on Sunday in Abuja
”As we await further details on the attacks, the Ministry wishes to
express its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their
lives and pray that God grant them the fortitude to bear the
irreplaceable loss.
”While wishing the injured quick recovery, the Ministry also wishes
to commiserate with the UN Peace Keeping Mission in Mali on the sad
incidence,” it stated.
The ministry reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to
continue to support the UN Peace keeping Mission in the fight against
insecurity in the continent and beyond.(NAN)