A suicide attack at a U.N. camp in northern Mali has killed four peacekeepers and raised concerns of heightened instability as the government tries to recover from a 2012 Islamist militant take-over in the country's north.
U.N. officials say a vehicle exploded near the entrance to the camp in the northern desert town of Aguelhoc on Wednesday, killing four peacekeepers from Chad.
Six other U.N. peacekeepers were wounded, along with four Malian soldiers.
There were no immediate claims of responsibility.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's office condemned the attack in the "strongest terms." In a statement made late Wednesday, a spokesperson for Ban said the attack would not diminish the U.N.'s resolve to support Mali in its efforts to achieve peace and stability.
The spokesperson also said Ban was urging "all parties not to be deterred by spoilers" who were using criminal acts to try to prevent Mali from having sustainable peace.
Mali descended into chaos in 2012, when Tuareg rebels and later al-Qaida-linked militants took advantage of a military coup in the capital to seize control of the north.
French-led forces pushed the Islamists out, but violence has continued as the U.N. and Mali's neighbors struggle to salvage a faltering peace process.
U.N. officials say a vehicle exploded near the entrance to the camp in the northern desert town of Aguelhoc on Wednesday, killing four peacekeepers from Chad.
Six other U.N. peacekeepers were wounded, along with four Malian soldiers.
There were no immediate claims of responsibility.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's office condemned the attack in the "strongest terms." In a statement made late Wednesday, a spokesperson for Ban said the attack would not diminish the U.N.'s resolve to support Mali in its efforts to achieve peace and stability.
The spokesperson also said Ban was urging "all parties not to be deterred by spoilers" who were using criminal acts to try to prevent Mali from having sustainable peace.
Mali descended into chaos in 2012, when Tuareg rebels and later al-Qaida-linked militants took advantage of a military coup in the capital to seize control of the north.
French-led forces pushed the Islamists out, but violence has continued as the U.N. and Mali's neighbors struggle to salvage a faltering peace process.
