1 Chadian peacekeeper killed in attack on UN mission in Mali

The UN Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) has reported that one peacekeeper from Chad was killed and two others were wounded in a mortar attack on its camp in Kidal region, said a spokesperson here on Tuesday.

UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a daily briefing that "the UN expresses its sincere condolences to the people and the government of Chad."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will be writing a letter to the government of Chad to express his own condolences, said Dujarric.

Koen Davidse, the interim head of the UN mission, condemned the attack and stressed that attacks against the UN Mission would not weaken its determination to implement its mandate.

MINUSMA has become a frequent target of terrorist attacks in Mali, known as the deadest active UN mission. It is mandated with tasks of supporting and monitoring the implementation of a peace deal in Mali.

Mali has struggled with instability for years and the country's peace process has been slow and fragile. Last week, a suicide bomb attack ripped a military camp shared by Malian parties cooperating on the peace deal, making the situation even worse.

source: Xinhua