Bodies of Senegalese peacekeepers killed in Mali return home

DAKAR, Senegal – The families of two Senegalese peacekeepers killed in Mali gathered in the Senegalese capital for a ceremony honoring their sacrifice. The two United Nations soldiers died Saturday when a truck loaded with explosives detonated in front of a bank in the northern Malian city of Kidal.

Fatoumata Diakhate, the 65-year-old mother of Corporal Ousmane Fall travelled by bus from the northern city of Saint Louis, reaching the capital at dawn. She says she was given 25 minutes with her son's body at the morgue, before he was taken away.

Fall's body and the remains of his fallen colleague were taken in a hearse to a military camp in Dakar for a ceremony, before being driven to the airport. Their remains are being repatriated to their hometowns by special flights.