Among those wounded in the latest attack earlier this week were some MINUSMA peacekeepers.

Mahamat Saleh Annadif, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Mali, expressed anger at the attack.

“This attack is all the more abject as it targeted civilians,” the envoy said.

“The enemies of peace will not succeed in hindering the return of Malians to return peace and stability in the country with the commitment of the international community,” he said.

The West African country of 19 million is enduring a rebellion by some Islamist groups. Ethnic clashes have added to the country’s woes.

MINUSMA was established in 2013 to stabilise Mali after the rebellion the previous year.

It is the UN’s most dangerous peacekeeping mission, with 150 peacekeepers killed out of a force of about 11 000.