There will be an independent investigation into possible negligent actions by Defense in the mortar accident in Mali in 2016 in which two soldiers from the Johan Willem Friso barracks in Assen were killed. A third soldier was seriously injured. Minister Kajsa Ollongren (Defence) informed the House of this.
Recently, the radio program Argos reported that the top officials of the ministry did not want an investigation into possible ‘negligence or culpability’ in the run-up to the mortar accident. While the then minister Jeanine Hennis thought it was of “essential importance”.
The relatives of Kevin Roggeveld and Henry Hoving urged Prime Minister Rutte this week for an independent investigation. The soldiers of the 11 Airmobile Brigade were killed when a mortar shell exploded during a target practice.
Ollongren has now informed the SP that an investigation will be carried out after all. “That is why I am setting up an independent committee to investigate whether and how any individual negligent and/or culpable acts can be established and also to follow up on this,” the minister writes.
After the accident in Mali, the Ministry of Defense had an external investigation carried out. But the committee headed by former Shell CEO Jeroen van der Veer did not investigate negligent or culpable acts. He decided this after consultation with the highest official of Defense.
Last year, the Defense organization conducted an internal evaluation of the course of events surrounding the accident, Argos reported. It emerged that the highest official informed Hennis’ successor about Van der Veer’s investigation, but did not do so in full.
Hennis resigned in 2017 after an investigation by the Dutch Safety Board (OVV) into the mortar accident. That report was hard-hitting and concluded that Defense had fallen seriously short.