In a devastating attack, over 20 civilians were killed in central Mali’s Mopti region. The incident occurred in the village of Bankass, a known hotspot for jihadist activities linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State.
According to local official Moulaye Guindo, the armed assailants targeted villagers as they were heading to their fields. “Yesterday we counted 19 deaths but today it is more than 20,” Guindo stated.
Around 20 #UnitedNations peacekeepers were wounded in an attack on their base in central Mali on Wednesday.
Unidentified militants attacked a temporary base near #Kerena, a village in the war-torn centre of the #Sahel state, at around 7 am.#s63 pic.twitter.com/91TdLVqVru
— Studio 63 (@Studio63_ke) February 11, 2021
Mali has been embroiled in an insurgency since a Tuareg uprising in 2012, which has since spread across the Sahel region. Despite significant international military efforts, jihadist groups have continued to gain ground, leading to thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions.
The inability of authorities to protect civilians has fueled instability, contributing to multiple coups in Mali and neighboring countries like Burkina Faso and Niger. The recent attack in Bankass underscores the ongoing security challenges and the severe impact on local communities.
#BreakingNews Today at least 20 UN peacekeepers were wounded in an attack against their base in Central Mali. This base is close to Kerena village which is in the most dangerous wartorn part of the country. The base was attacked with direct and indirect fire in the early morning. pic.twitter.com/RL5FEgO9Cx
— Conflict News (@ConflictCollec1) February 10, 2021
Efforts to curb the violence have proven difficult, and the international community remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis in the region.
The attack on Bankass is a stark reminder of the fragile security situation in Mali and the urgent need for effective measures to protect vulnerable populations.
Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/over-20-killed-attack-central-mali-village-2024-05-26/
(The story is published based on the data from a syndicated feed. However there can be minor changes from the original source article.)
