Egypt's Armed Forces Mourn Death of 2 Egyptian Peacekeepers in Mali

On Friday, the Egyptian Armed Forces mourned the killing of two Egyptian peacekeepers and the injury of another in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion while carrying out a mission in central Mali.

All necessary measures are being taken in coordination with the United Nations, the Armed Forces added.

The Armed Forces also offered sincere condolences to the families of the victims, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

The three army personnel were part of the Egyptian peacekeeping mission in Mali.

Earlier in March, the Armed Forces mourned the death of two members of the Egyptian peacekeeping forces in Mali in another explosion.

It was announced to result in the death of two soldiers and the injury of four others.

The Armed Forces extended their sincere condolences and sympathy, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.

It affirmed its role in maintaining international peace and security out of its full belief in the importance of peace, coexistence, and the elimination of terrorism.​

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.