Over 20 civilians were killed in an attack on Saturday in central Mali, a local official reported on Sunday. The attack occurred in a village within the Circle of Bankass in the Mopti region, an area heavily affected by the insurgency waged by jihadist groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State since 2012.
Bankass Mayor Moulaye Guindo stated that unidentified armed assailants targeted villagers on their way to work in their fields. “Yesterday we counted 19 deaths but today it is more than 20,” he said via telephone.
The insurgency in Mali began during a 2012 Tuareg uprising and has since spread across the Sahel region, affecting northern parts of West African coastal countries. Despite significant foreign military efforts to combat the jihadists, these groups have continued to gain ground, resulting in the deaths of thousands and the displacement of millions. They frequently target towns, villages, and military installations.
The inability of authorities to protect civilians has been a critical factor in the political instability in the region. This insecurity has contributed to two coups in Mali since 2020, as well as coups in neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger.
Melissa Enoch
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