A report to the UN Secretary General will be drawn up by Maria Angela Holguin Queillar in the near future, as she announced shortly…
Several members of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Mali (MINUSMA), which is currently withdrawing from the Sahel state, were seriously injured on Wednesday when their convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device, a UN spokesman said.
The day before yesterday, MINUSMA Blue Berets left their base in Kindal in a long convoy that headed towards Gao, a large city in the north, some 350 kilometers away.
Based on preliminary information, the blast seriously injured several Blue Berets. MINUSMA later clarified via X that eight of its members were injured, all of whom were taken to Gao.
Update on our withdrawal from #Kidal: Today, an armored vehicle in our convoy hit an #IED en route to #Gao. 8 peacekeepers injured, who have all been evacuated to #Gao. This is the 3rd IED attack on the convoy since it left on 10/31. Wishing them all a speedy recovery.
— MINUSMA (@UN_MINUSMA) November 1, 2023
The attack followed two similar incidents the day before Tuesday, in which two Blue Berets were slightly injured and treated at the scene. This convoy was the last to leave Kindal for the MINUSMA base in Gao under extremely difficult security conditions.
The convoy had to move without air support, as no flight permission was given by the Malian authorities, something that increases the risks for the Blue Berets who have to travel hundreds of kilometers in dangerous areas, while full cooperation was once again requested from Bamako in the withdrawal of the peacekeeping force.
The military junta ruling Mali demanded in June that the peacekeepers leave without delay, prompting the Security Council to begin an unprecedented, accelerated withdrawal process, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
MINUSMA, amid a rapidly deteriorating security situation, with various armed actors vying for control of areas – separatists, jihadists, the Army – hastened its withdrawal, much to the chagrin of the military regime.
It thus abandoned its positions in Kindal without waiting for Army reinforcements to arrive, allowing Tuareg-dominated separatist rebels to overtake the Armed Forces in the race for control of the region between the central state and armed groups in the north.
Also read: UN | Peacekeeping mission ends in Mali
READ MORE
Skopje | President calls her country “Macedonia” – Greek ambassador leaves
The President of Skopje, Gordana Silianovska, during the swearing-in ceremony referred to the country as “Macedonia”…
European Investment Bank | Support for the security and defence industry
The Board of Directors of the European Investment Bank (EIB) approved an updated definition of dual-use goods and infrastructure eligible…
BAE Systems | Development of next-generation airborne decoy countermeasure
BAE Systems has been selected by the US Navy to develop airborne Dual Band Decoy (DBD). According to the company…
SEKPY | The challenges of the domestic defence industry at DEFEA Conference 2024
The evolving geopolitical landscape and the complex challenges in the security sector, as well as the dynamics of the domestic defence…
DEFEA CONFERENCE 2024 | The greatest Defence Conference in Greece has been successfully concluded – Photos
The greatest International Defence Conference “DEFEA Conference 2024” has been concluded today with absolute success…
EU | 556 firefighters from 12 countries on the frontline across Europe
More than 500 firefighters from 12 countries will be on the frontline in key locations in Europe including Greece, France and…
Germany and Norway | Kongsberg, Diehl and MBDA Deutschland to develop new supersonic strike missile
Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, alongside German companies Diehl Defence and MBDA Deutschland, have joined forces to develop…
Ministry of Defence | Seminar on “Maritime Security Challenges in the European Union: The Case of the Eastern Mediterranean”
The Security and Defence Academy of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus and the French Institute for Advanced…