UN Condemns Attack on Peacekeepers Camp in Mali

The United Nations called for an urgent investigation into the Saturday attack on a UN base in northern Mali, which killed a Chadian member of the UN peacekeeping mission and wounded four others.

UNITED NATIONS, January 18 (Sputnik) – The United Nations has condemned the Saturday attack on a UN base in northern Mali, which killed a Chadian member of the UN peacekeeping mission and wounded four others, calling for an urgent investigation into the incident.

Both the UN Security Council and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack on the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in separate statements released Saturday.

Members of the Security Council "called on the Government of Mali to swiftly investigate this attack and bring the perpetrators to justice and stressed that those responsible for the attack shall be held accountable."

The UN Secretary General said the tragic incident follows other attack against UN personnel "including rocket attacks against MINUSMA camps and attacks against vehicles using mines and improvised explosive devices".

According to Ban Ki-moon, "these attacks will not alter the determination of the United Nations to support the Malian people in its search for peace".

Both the UN Secretary General and the Security Council stressed that there is an urgent need to reach a political settlement and restore security in the conflict-torn Mali.

Several insurgent groups have been battling the Malian government since 2012, seeking independence for the country's northern region.

The al-Qaeda-linked fighters have intensified their attacks in recent months.