BREAKING NEWS

One UN peacekeeper killed, four wounded in north Mali mine attack

BAMAKO - A United Nations peacekeeper was killed and four others wounded on Sunday when their vehicle hit a mine in Mali's restive north, the UN mission (MINUSMA) said.
The attack on the vehicle, which was escorting a logistical convoy, occurred about 11 km (7 miles) south of Aguelhoc in the region of Kidal, where several Islamist militant groups groups are active, the mission said in a statement.
All five peacekeepers were from Chad, a mission spokesman said.
About two hours later, another mine exploded near a UN peacekeeping vehicle two km east of the mission base in Kidal but only caused material damage, the MINUSMA statement added.
Mali's government has not had a military presence in Kidal since clashes between the army and Tuareg rebels killed 50 soldiers there in 2014, leaving a heavy security burden on UN troops.
Mali has become the deadliest place to serve for UN peacekeepers. The United Nations says more than 100 peacekeepers have been killed since MINUSMA deployed in July 2013. The UN Security Council voted in June to increase the contingent by 2,500 troops, taking the total number of uniformed personnel to more than 15,000.