Worst-ever attack on UN peacekeeping force in Mali leaves 9 dead

Men on motorbikes ambushed a convoy of U.N. peacekeepers in northern Mali on Friday, U.N. officials said, killing nine in the deadliest attack yet on the force. It was the latest in a string of deadly attacks on the peacekeeping force tasked with bringing stability to the West African country following a coup and jihadist offensive, in what has become one of bloodiest U.N. missions. The force said in a statement that air support was immediately deployed to secure the area where the attack took place 15 kilometers (9 miles) east of Indelimane in the northern Gao region. The convoy of troops from Niger was traveling from Menaka to Asongo when the ambush happened Friday morning, the statement said. The attackers were carrying heavy arms, said Olivier Salgado, a spokesman for the force, known as MINUSMA.

This is the deadliest attack that MINUSMA has suffered since the beginning of the mission…The toll is rather serious.

Oliver Salgado, spokesman for UN peacekeeping force

Africa