The peacekeepers were part of a convoy travelling from Douentza to Sevare, nformed the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. António Guterres strongly condemns this heinous attack, he told correspondents in New York at the regular daily briefing.

“The Secretary-General also calls on the Malian authorities to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of this attack so that they can be brought to justice”, Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said

No group claimed responsibility for the explosion, but it is believed that it responds to the “modus operandi” of radical groups present in Mali, including the Group for the Defense of Islam and Muslims, an ally of Al Qaeda

The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), made up of over 13,000 soldiers and 1,920 policemen, was created in order to contain violence in the north and center of the country.

According to analysts, it is currently the most dangerous mission in the world, reporting 159 deaths and 426 injured since its foundation in 2013.

Mali, one of the largest and poorest countries in Africa, is fighting the crisis that is blooming despite a nine-year effort by international forces to defeat it.

“This is one of the worst attacks against UN peacekeeping missions in 2021,” Guterres stated.

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