United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday condemned the attack against members of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in the area of Siby that resulted in the death of three peacekeepers from Guinea and the injury of several others, Trend reports citing Xinhua.
"The secretary-general extends his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wishes a swift recovery to the injured. He also expresses his solidarity with the people and government of Guinea," his spokesman said.
"He cautions that any attack against United Nations peacekeepers may constitute a war crime and calls on the Malian authorities to spare no effort in identifying and swiftly bringing to justice the perpetrators of this attack."
"The secretary-general reiterates the determination of MINUSMA to continue implementing its mandate in support of the people and government of Mali in their quest for peace," the spokesman added.
UN peacekeepers and French forces are stationed in central and northern Mali to combat well-armed jihadist groups with links to al-Qaida and Islamic State seen as threatening security across Africa's Sahel region.