UN Seeks More Peacekeepers In Mali Amidst Killings

The Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, has said that the UN is seeking around 2500 more peacekeepers to help reinforce the organization’s mission in Mali.

Since May, 12 UN peacekeepers have been killed in the country while carrying out their mission.

The latest attacks on UN peacekeepers in the country happened on Tuesday, when a peacekeeper from China was killed when their camp was attacked in the city of Gao.

Along with the Chinese man that was killed, three other peacekeepers were injured severely in the attack.

Ban Ki-moon said that the security situation in Mali has deteriorated tremendously over the past few months. This has lead to more attacks – and attacks of increased violence and death – on the UN peacekeepers in the country:

“…I think it’s clear to everyone that the security situation in parts of Mali have deteriorated. I think the UN staff have paid for it in blood,” he said.

With the deterioration of security, the UN now seeks trained people to help them with their mission.

The statement that calls on peacekeepers said that the UN requires around 2050 soldiers and close to 500 police officers in order to sufficiently up security.

These soldiers and other security aids would aid help in the rapid reaction force, form part of an aviation unit and they would also require the services of specialists in high security convoys.

The security council will review Ban Ki-moon’s request for more help in Mali when the vote on whether or not to extend the mission in Mali or not at the end of the month on June 29th.