2 UN peacekeepers killed in Mali when convoy hits explosives

BAMAKO, Mali – The United Nations mission in Mali said two peacekeepers were killed Tuesday and two others seriously injured when a convoy hit a mine in the northern Kidal region.

The mission said in a statement that the two injured peacekeepers were immediately evacuated after their vehicles hit the explosives about 15 kilometres (9 miles) outside Aguelhok.

A U.N. official said the peacekeepers were Chadian. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to speak to the press on the matter.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack and reiterated that attacks on peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

The peacekeeping mission in Mali is the deadliest of the U.N.’s 16 global peacekeeping operations.

Unidentified gunmen last month attacked the U.N. peacekeeping headquarters in Timbuktu, killing at least seven people and injuring others.