Two U.N. Peacekeepers and a civilian contractor were killed when militants fired rockets during an attack on a United Nations base in northern Mali Saturday.
Apart from the deceased, the rocket fire also injured 20 others, with four of them in critical condition, said a spokesman for the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali. No one knows yet who is responsible for the attack, which is a follow up to the militant assault that occurred last week in a luxury hotel in Bamako that left 19 people dead. However, two West African groups - al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb and its affiliate al-Mourabitoun- claimed join responsibility over the attacks during Nov. 20, according to VOA News.
"I want to reiterate that these attacks will not impede the determination of the United Nations to support the Malian people in the peace process," said Mongi Hamdi, the head of the U.N. mission and the special representative for the secretary-general in Mali. "I express my solidarity and salute the brave men and women serving (the U.N. mission) throughout the country for their efforts to bringing lasting peace to Mali in these difficult conditions."
Peace in Northern Mali has become hard to come by since it fell to Tuareg separatists and other armed groups in 2012. However, the armed fighters were pushed out of the country's northern region by the French in 2013, but they still continue to attack the U.N. Peacekeepers, Al Jazeera reported.
A state of alert has been initiated in the city, with those who reside near the airport zone being warned not to go outside their homes. The Kidal region, where Mali is in, is considered to be the Tuareg capital, and the central government does not control the law, as it is imposed by the separatist group.
In a response to the current series of events, the French have announced that they will be sending in 650 troops to Mali to support the French efforts in the fight against the threat of Jihadism in the Sahel, according to Fox News.
