190 peacekeepers killed in Mali in past decade

A total of 190 peacekeepers have been killed in Mali since 2013, said El-Ghassim Wane, special representative of the UN Secretary-General in Mali and head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), in Bamako, the Malian capital, reported Xinhua.

There are "hundreds of peacekeepers injured, some of them permanently disabled, during their deployment in Mali," Wane added during the ceremony held Monday to celebrate the International Peacekeepers' Day, with the theme "Peace begins with me."

Underlining the determination of the MINUSMA personnel to achieve their objectives, he thanked Mali for its commitment to UN missions, notably MINUSCA in the Central African Republic and MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"As of March 2023, 54 Malian police and military personnel were deployed in various UN missions. Through them, Mali brings its share of solidarity to other countries facing similar challenges," Wane said.

MINUSMA, whose mission has been extended until June 30, 2023, comprises 13,289 soldiers and 1,920 police officers, with a mandate to support the implementation of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali and the completion of the political transition.