DAKAR: Seven United Nations (UN) peacekeepers were injured on Saturday in central Mali after a roadside bomb exploded under their convoy, according to the UN officials in the West African country (MINUSMA).
The UN announced on social media that the peacekeepers were “receiving appropriate treatment” but did not specify their health or nationality.
7 UN peacekeepers injured in Mali
The information was confirmed by a MINUSMA spokeswoman to AFP. The improvised explosive device (IED) exploded as the convoy passed over it 34 kilometers (21 miles) north of Douentza. According to the UN officials, there have been six similar roadside bomb attacks this year in central Mail, where terrorists are known to operate.
Landmines and IEDs are frequently blamed on terrorists in Mali, who have been attacking international military and official symbols since 2012. Every year, scores of people are killed, both troops and civilians, with 80 UN peacekeepers killed in such attacks over the last decade.
Among the UN’s peacekeeping teams deployed throughout the world, the 12,000-member UN force in Mali has suffered the greatest losses in recent years. Since its formation in 2013, a total of 185 MINUSMA members have been killed.
