The United Nations mission (Minusma) in Mali on Saturday condemned an attack by jihadists which killed nearly thirty Malian soldiers on Friday morning in Mondoro in the center of the country.
El-Ghassim Wane, the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations for Mali (SRSG), head of Minusma condemned "
firmly
" this attack and presented his "
deepest condolences to the authorities of the Transition, to the Malian people as well and to the families and loved ones of fallen Malian soldiers
".
The head of the UN mission "
reiterates the unwavering commitment of the Minusma alongside the Malians in their legitimate quest for peace and stability
".
The attack that took place on Friday morning left 27 dead and 33 injured, according to an official statement from the Malian army.
In addition, according to the army, 47 assailants were "
neutralized
" in the morning and 23 others were following a "
raking of terrorist sanctuaries
".
A three-day national mourning from Saturday has been decreed by the Malian government.
Earlier in the day on Friday, a French military source, on condition of anonymity, had told AFP that the toll of this attack carried out by several hundred jihadists had left between 40 and 50 dead.
France and its European allies within the Takuba special forces group have just announced their military withdrawal from Mali.
The Mondoro camp, near the border with Burkina Faso, has been the target of attacks on several occasions in the past by jihadist groups which have been operating in the area for several years.
The inhabitants denounce a situation of blockade imposed by the jihadists, despite the presence of the army.
The camp is in one of the main centers of violence which, starting in northern Mali with separatist and jihadist insurgencies in 2012, has spread to the center and to neighboring Burkina and Niger.
