U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemns Tuesday's series of attacks against the U.N. Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), his spokesperson said. According to initial reports, four different attacks targeting MINUSMA personnel and installations occurred in Aguelhok, Kidal region, during which one peacekeeper from Chad was killed and eight others injured. "The secretary-general presents his sincere condolences to the family of the fallen peacekeeper and to the government and people of Chad, and wishes a prompt recovery to those injured," Ban's spokesperson said in a statement. The statement called for "swift action" to bring the perpetrators to justice, recalling that attacks against U.N. peacekeepers constitute war crimes under international law. The statement also said that the U.N. chief is concerned by the recent violations of the ceasefire arrangements by the signatory armed groups in the area of Kidal. In that regard, Ban urged signatory parties to fulfill their obligations under the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, which he said would contribute to restoring stability and security in the region.
