A Malian army helicopter recently fired several rockets "
in the vicinity
" of British peacekeepers, British authorities said on Tuesday (April 12th), an exceptional incident fueling questions about the future of the UN mission in this country. .
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"
We are aware of a recent incident in Mali in which rockets were fired by a Malian armed forces helicopter near a British detachment
," a Defense Ministry spokesman said in a message to the Ministry of Defense. AFP.
“
All UK personnel are safe and the circumstances of the incident are being investigated
,” he added.
The facts took place near Tessit, near Gao, in the east of the country.
Last week, US Deputy Representative to the UN Richard Mills denounced an "
unacceptable
" incident that took place on March 22 in which a Malian helicopter "
fired six rockets near peacekeepers in eastern Mali.
".
Wagner's involvement
According to a diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity, paramilitaries from the Russian paramilitary company Wagner could be involved in this incident alongside the Malian army.
France and Westerners denounce the appeal made, according to them, by the Malian authorities to the Russian private security group Wagner, whose actions are controversial.
The Malian authorities claim not to use mercenaries and speak of state-to-state cooperation with Russia.
The Malian army has been accused of the massacre at the end of March of hundreds of civilians in Moura (center) with the participation of alleged Wagner mercenaries.
Read alsoIn Mali, first clashes between Wagner and jihadists
The mandate of the Minusma mission, which includes some 14,000 soldiers and police, expires in June.
Several troop-contributing countries are reviewing their participation in light of the latest developments in Mali.
The end of the French and European operations will deprive the blue helmets of precious air and medical support and the UN is studying the means of minimizing it.
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