As was announced by the UN mission, five peacekeepers from Chad, members of the UN peacekeeping force in Mali were killed and three others injured when their vehicle was hit by an explosive device in the north of Mali.

This attack brings the total number of UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives so far so far in Mali to 10.

The announcement continues by saying that  “This incident follows several other attacks in the Kidal region where too many members of the UN peacekeeping force have been killed or injured” .

The peacekeeping mission MINUSMA was developed last year in Mali in order to help stabilize the West African state after the triple-internal crisis.

The Islamists were ousted after a French intervention but rebel groups still remain in the vast desert in northern Mali while launching attacks against both the French troops, and the UN peacekeepers.