At least 12 civilians were killed by gunmen in an attack on a village in central Mali, according to two officials on Friday. This is the most recent attack reported in an area plagued by jihadist activity.
After the separatist Tuareg revolt of 2012, the nation in West Africa is fighting a deadly insurgency linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State that has taken root in the desert north.
Since then, the militants have extended to other countries in the Sahel region south of the Sahara. However, lately, they have extended to the coastline states, where they have seized territories, killed thousands, and displaced millions.
The most recent incident occurred Thursday evening in a village in Mali’s Mopti area, according to Moulaye Guindo, mayor of the adjoining commune of Bankass.
“Unknown armed men entered the village and opened fire.
“Those who fled into the (surrounding) forest were chased down and killed,” Guindo told Reuters by phone.
“This morning we tallied 19 dead, and the search continues,” he continued.
The mayor of another nearby city, Kani Bonzon, confirmed the attack and reported that the local clinic has already received 12 bodies.
Soumaila Guindo told Reuters that armed men had shot people, burned the village, and pillaged it. Mali fought the rebellion despite the intervention of foreign troops and the UN.blue helmet despite “many deaths.”
Since August of 2020, two military coups have been sparked by mounting frustration about insecurity. The junta severed ties with its traditional Western allies and sought assistance from Russian mercenaries.
Last year, France withdrew its troops from the country in part due to this alliance. Since then, numerous countries have followed suit.
