Nine United Nations (U.N.) Peacekeepers in Mali were killed in an ambush by still unidentified motorcycle-riding men on Friday in northern Mali.

The victims, who travelled from Niger, were on their convoy when they were attacked by armed men between the towns of Menaka and Ansongo. It was so far the deadliest attack on the U.N. Mission in Mali.

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In a press statement, the U.N. mission claimed that "this morning, a convoy of MINUSMA peacekeepers from the Nigerien contingent was the target of a direct attack while travelling to Indelimane, in the Menaka-Asongo corridor. A provisional toll indicated nine deaths."

"I am horrified by this cowardly act of terrorism. Once again, lives has been lost today in the name of peace in Mali. These crimes must not go unpunished," according to Arnauld Akodjenou, the deputy head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali or MINUSMA.

Based on initial investigation, as stated by a Nigerian officer from the said U.N. Mission, the attack was conducted by the al-Qaeda allied Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO).The group is said to be responsible for the many attacks in north Mali over the recent years.

"This violence must stop immediately and MINUSMA again challenges all those involved in finding solutions for sustainable peace to take responsibility for a rapid resolution of the crisis that has lasted too long," Akodjenou added.

The U.N. deployed peacekeepers in the northern section of Mali to secure its wide zone of desert from extremist groups, most of which are linked to al-Qaeda.

The U.N. Mission's presence enabled Mali to conduct peaceful elections last summer. The so-called peaceful situation, however, was short-lived as France redeployed some of its military troops in Mali, prompting violent reactions from Islamist groups in the area.

TagsMINUSMA, United Nations peacekeepers, Mali, MUJAO