UN condemns attack on peacekeeping convoy in Mali that killed 2 Egyptians

CAIRO – 4 June 2022: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned an attack against a peacekeeping convoy in Mali on Friday, which killed two Egyptian non-commissioned officers and injured another soldier.

The Egyptian peacekeepers, part of the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA) were killed as their armored personnel carrier hit an improvised explosive device near Douentza town in central Mali’s Mopti region, the UN says.

This is the second deadly attack this week on the peacekeeping forces in the West African country after a Jordanian peacekeeper was killed and three others were injured in a terrorist attack in Kidal in northern Mali.

The latest attack is also the sixth of its kind since 22 May, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric has said.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix condemned the attack as a “blatant violation of international humanitarian law,” stressing that such attacks shall not go unpunished.

“In what is yet again another cowardly attack against our peacekeepers, two brave Blue helmets from Egypt lost their lives today while serving for peace with UN MINUSMA,” Lacroix said.

Jordan also condemned the latest attack, extending deep condolences to the government and people of Egypt and to the families of the victims.

The Egyptian Armed Forces mourned on Friday the killing and injury of the blue helmets in Mali, saying all necessary measures are being taken in coordination with the UN.

The Armed Forces also offered sincere condolences to the families of the victims, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Earlier in March, two members of the Egyptian peacekeeping forces were also killed in Mali in another explosion.