12 UN peacekeepers killed in Mali over week

By Riyaz ul Khaliq</p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – At least 12 UN peacekeeping personnel were killed and scores of others injured in two separate attacks over the past week, a statement said.</p> <p>“Two peacekeepers from the MINUSMA were killed on Friday following an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack against a convoy near Douentza, in the Mopti region, central Mali,” said the statement issued by the UN on Saturday evening.</p> <p>The Friday attacked followed a similar one on Jan. 20 when 10 peacekeepers from Chad were killed in a “terrorist” attack against the mission’s camp in Aguelhok, in the Kidal region of Mali, the statement added.</p> <p>UN Security Council established “United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali” (MINUSMA) in April 2013 to “support political processes in that country and carry out a number of security-related tasks”.</p> <p>MINUSMA is the deadliest UN peacekeeping, with 177 fatalities since 2013. It is also one of the largest missions, with over 15,000 personnel.