UN peacekeeper killed, 3 injured following mine explosion in northeastern Mali

BAMAKO - A United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) peacekeeper was killed and three were seriously injured following the explosion of an improvised explosive device in the northeast of Mali, a UN official said.

The head of the UN mission, El-Ghassim Wane, announced Saturday on his Twitter account that it was a MINUSMA vehicle that hit an improvised explosive device near Tessalit of Kidal region.

"The death toll is one and three serious injuries ... This reminds us of the ongoing danger to our peacekeepers and the sacrifices made for peace in Mali," Wane tweeted.

In recent weeks, the UN mission has been the target of several attacks in northern Mali. On Sept 11, three MINUSMA peacekeepers were injured by an explosive device near its camp in Kidal.

Since 2012, Mali has been facing a profound multifaceted crisis at the security, political and economic levels.

The separatist insurgencies, then the jihadist incursions as well as the inter-communal violence left thousands of people dead and hundreds of thousands of others displaced despite the presence of the UN, African and European forces.