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Deutsche Welle (4 October 2017)

A Dutch safety board report into the deaths of two UN peacekeeping troops in Mali last year claimed two political victims on Tuesday.

Dutch Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaertand military chief Tom Middendorp both resigned after the report condemned the country's Defense Ministry of "serious shortcomings" in its care for peacekeeping troops stationed in the African country.

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"I have put my heart and soul into serving in the Defense Ministry," Hennis-Plasschaert told lawmakers Tuesday. "But it stops here, today."

She served as defense minister for five years and had been instated as caretaker minister following the Netherlands' national election in March.