The killing of Egyptian peacekeeper in Mali ‘may constitute war crimes’, warns UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

An improvised road mine exploded in the Mopti region of Mali on Saturday on being hit by the peacekeeping convoy, resulting in the death of one UN peacekeeper and injuring four others.

A tweet shared by the official Twitter account of the Office of the Spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres included a statement made by him on the incident.

It revealed that the peacekeeper who was killed in the incident was an Egyptian.

The statement of the Secretary-General added that the UN convoy was en route to Douentza from Boni in southern-central Mali.

"The UN Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the family of the victim and to the Government of Egypt. He wishes a speedy recovery to those injured," it said.

The UN chief, in the statement said that attacks targeting UN peacekeepers may "constitute war crimes under international law" and urged the Malian authorities to take swift action to identify the perpetrators of this attack and bring them to justice.

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Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix took to Twitter, extending heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased.

The UN convoy that carried members of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) witnessed the attack close to the border with Burkina Faso, noted the statement.

Post the extremist militants seized control of northern Mali in 2012, it gave way to MINUSMA's mandate from the UN Security Council. It was, however, repulsed by French military action a year later.

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