United Nations says a civilian member of its peacekeeping mission in the country has been killed in a bomb attack in the north of the country. UN Chief Ban Ki-moon has condemned the attack in the Timbuktu region. That comes as Malian authorities continue to hunt for suspects in last Friday’s deadly attack at a hotel in Timbuktu.
U.N. peacekeepers on patrol in north Mali. The government says the gunmen in last week’s attack of the Radisson Blu Hotel came from this area. In 2012, local militant groups from this region rebelled against the government, and took control of large parts of the country. French troops intervened to recapture major cities, followed by U.N. peacekeepers in 2013. It has turned out to be one of the deadliest missions for the U.N¡. with some 40 peacekeepers killed and hundreds wounded.
The U.N. says it’s trying everything it can to stabilize the country but one expert does not believe the peace agreement can be sustained.
“Malians do not identify themselves with this peace agreement, because it brings the same solution that were proposed in other peace agreements signed before, to the same problems, and it will have the same results.” Etienne Fakaba Sissoko, University Professor
Mali is one of the poorest countries in Africa, and people in Mali are suffering from economic hardship and now lack of security. In the past year, there has been more than a hundred attacks in Mali, despite the presence of international peacekeepers and French forces, Malians say they are tired of the instability, and they want a plan that can bring a lasting peace.
