The gunmen struck early Sunday at the Aguelhok base 200 kilometres (125 miles) north of Kidal and towards the border with Algeria, according to a source close to the MINUSMA mission. “MINUSMA forces responded robustly and a number of assailants were killed,” Dujarric said, without specifying the toll. Mahamat Saleh Annadif, the UN envoy for Mali, condemned what he called a “vile and criminal” attack. Peacekeepers of the MINUSMA force at Aguelhok fought off a sophisticated attack by assailants who arrived on several armed vehicles,” he said in a statement. Washington renewed its warning that it would push for changes to the peacekeeping mission in Mali, possibly a major drawdown, if there was no progress.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 20, 2019 20:48 UTC