Two Belgian soldiers injured in Mali by an iED
(B2) Two Belgian soldiers were seriously injured on the first day of 2020 in Mali. They belonged to the reconnaissance and intelligence battalion of MINUSMA
Stable state
He was “10 a.m. (Belgian time)” when the vehicle in which the soldiers were found " rolled over an improvised explosive device (FDI)”. " They were transferred to the role 2 hospital in Gao. Their condition is stable and families have been notified. “, announced the Belgian Defense. " A third soldier was also transferred for control. »
An ongoing investigation
The defense did not specify either the unit to which these soldiers belonged or the operation in the context of which they were evolving, simply indicating that “ an investigation is underway, no further communication will be given on the subject ". But we can already give some details...
An evacuation to Barkhane in the first place
According to our information, the soldiers were evacuated to the field hospital (role 2) of the French operation 'Barkhane'. They belonged to the ISTAR Battalion (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, & Reconnaissance) of the Minusma, in charge of intelligence and reconnaissance missions for the United Nations mission.
Men from the ISTAR Battalion
It is normally the men of the Battalion of Chasseurs à Cheval de Herverlee who provide this manpower. Even if this information has not been officially confirmed, they regularly carry out, according to the Belgian defence, reconnaissance missions north of Gao of variable duration, ranging from one day to seven days. The incident did not occur in this area, but in Agola (Boura), 20 km southwest of Ansongo according to Walid the Berber. That is to say an area not far from 'the three borders', between Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. Point not denied by the Belgian defense.
#gao
A vehicle from the Belgian contingent of Minusma hit an IED, this 01/01/2020 morning, in Agola (Boura) located 20 km southwest of Ansongo...... #Sahel— Walid Le Berbere (@Walid_Leberbere) January 1, 2020
A presence in three operations
Belgium is present in two operations: 90 soldiers serve in MINUSMA, the United Nations stabilization mission in Mali, of which around half (mainly from the battalion of mounted hunters) in the Istar battalion. A dozen soldiers are also present as part of the EU training mission of the Malian army (EUTM Mali) present in Bamako and Koulikoro. And three soldiers must join the HQ of Gao of special forces of the new operation 'Takuba' started on the initiative of France.
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
A situation closely monitored by the government
Interim Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès assured " follow the situation closely “in connection with the Minister of Defense Philippe Goffin, in a message sent to Twitter. " My infinite gratitude to those who, on the ground, ensure our safety and defend our freedoms on a daily basis in the Sahel, she added. « We wish a speedy recovery to the injured Belgian soldiers assured for his part, Koen Vervaeke, the director of the Africa department of the EEAS (the European diplomatic service) on Twitter. " The participation of EU Member States in the various missions at the Mali is an essential component of the EU's commitment to Sahel ».
