AP Speaker Condemns Killing of 2 Egyptian Peacekeepers in Mali Blast

The Arab Parliament (AP) Speaker Mr. Adel Al-Asoomi condemned on Saturday, the killing of the Egyptian peacekeeping forces in Mali blast.

In a statemnet, he expressed sincere condolences and sympathy to the President, Government and people of Egypt.

Al-Asoomi paid tribute to the efforts of the Egyptian forces participating in the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali and their sacrifices to maintain international security and stability and to counter terrorism.

Moreover, he reiterated the AP’s support to Egypt, offering deepest condolences to the martyrs’ families praying God to grant them patience and solace. He also wished a speedy recovery for the injured.

It is worth mentioing that, two UN peacekeepers were killed on Friday when their armored personnel carrier hit an improvised explosive device in central Mali in the sixth incident in less than two weeks targeting the UN mission in the West African nation that has faced a decade-long Islamic insurgency.

A UN peacekeeping convoy was attacked by suspected terrorists in the northern Kidal region on Wednesday and a Jordanian peacekeeper was killed and three other Jordanians were wounded.

Dujarric said the supply convoy came under sustained fire for about an hour from attackers who used small arms and rocket launchers.

Mali has been in turmoil since a 2012 uprising prompted mutinous soldiers to overthrow the president. The power vacuum that resulted ultimately led to an Islamic insurgency and a French-led war that ousted the jihadists from power in 2013. But insurgents remain active and extremist groups affiliated with Al Qaeda and the Daesh group have moved from the arid north to more populated central Mali since 2015, stoking animosity and violence between ethnic groups in the region.

Mali’s current ruling junta seized power in August 2020, and in April the junta leaders said a transition to the civilian, democratic rule would take at least two years.