The Department of Defense is conducting an independent investigation into possible negligence by the Armed Forces and the Department at the time of the July 2016 Mali mortar accident. Two soldiers were killed and a third seriously injured. This is what Defense Minister Ollongren writes in response to parliamentary questions from the SP.

As early as 2017, the Dutch Safety Board (OVV) issued a critical report showing that the defense had “seriously come up short”. Mortar safety and medical supplies were not satisfactory.

The OVV concluded that the firing mechanism of the mortar shell was unstable and that this was due to storage. Moisture and heat made the mortar shells shock-sensitive and explosive, allowing for premature detonation.

information withheld

Following the inquiry, then Defense Secretary Hennis and Commander of the Armed Forces Tom Middendorp resigned. Hennis acknowledged that mistakes were made in the purchase, storage and use of the mortar shells purchased.

This summer, the OVV found in a new investigation that information about the accident had been withheld by the Ministry of Defence, the Royal Dutch Marechaussee and the public prosecutor’s office. “They knew that the ammunition was not handled with care and that was the cause. But that was not made public.”

The radio program recently reported argus that the Department’s top officials had no interest in an investigation into possible negligence or wrongdoing.

Russian roulette

When asked by the SP, Ollongren now says that there will be an investigation. It sets up an independent committee to examine “whether and how individual negligent and/or culpable acts can be determined”.

Relatives of slain soldiers Henry Hoving and Kevin Roggeveld have long urged a criminal investigation into possible negligent actions by the defense.

Kees Roggeveld, the father of the deceased soldier, said after the OVV report this summer: “Actually, it’s only starting now because someone still has to be held accountable. Someone decided to sell this ammunition that they knew it was not good to send to Mali anyway. We played Russian roulette with our boys.”