Al-Qaeda-linked attacks in central Mali kill more than 30 people

Deadly Attacks in Central Mali: JNIM Claims Responsibility, Civilian Toll Rises

BAMAKO, Mali — At least 30 people were killed in attacks on two villages in central Mali on Wednesday, according to local, security, and administrative sources quoted by AFP. The assaults, claimed by the al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), have compounded a security crisis that has gripped the West African nation since late April.

The attacks targeted the villages of Korikori and Gomossogou in the Mopti region. A youth official told AFP that “at least 35 people were killed in near simultaneous attacks,” while a security source and an administrative source both reported more than 30 dead. The toll may be higher: WAMAPS, a group of West African journalists specializing in Sahel security, gave a provisional figure of more than 50 villagers killed, with several still missing. The group also reported that villages had been looted and some properties set on fire.

The assailants are believed to be JNIM fighters, an al-Qaeda affiliate active in the Sahel. A security source told AFP that the attacks were in retaliation for acts committed by the Dan Nan Ambassagou militia, a self-defense group made up mainly of ethnic Dogon hunters that has refused government orders to disband. The source said the victims were “mostly militiamen, but there are also teenagers and children.”

In a separate statement, the Malian army said it had carried out “a targeted operation against terrorist armed groups” in the area, claiming that around a dozen fighters had been “neutralised.” The army gave no further details.

The attacks came less than a fortnight after JNIM and the Tuareg separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) launched a large-scale, coordinated offensive on April 25 and 26, targeting strategic locations including Kidal in the north and Kati, a garrison town near the capital Bamako. The offensive, which also saw the storming of a prison near Bamako, killed Defence Minister Sadio Camara and left towns and villages under rebel control, according to multiple sources. The JNIM has called for a “common front” to “put an end to the junta” and push for a peaceful transition.

In a separate incident, Mali’s army has been accused of killing at least 10 civilians in drone strikes on Sunday in the central region of San. Residents told AFP that the victims were preparing for a traditional collective wedding in the locality of Tene. A resident said “10 of our children” were killed, and a local official confirmed the death toll. A security source said the strikes targeted “a procession of motorbikes,” which likely drew the attention of the drones.

The military government has not commented on the drone strikes, but the incidents have heightened concerns about civilian casualties amid the escalating conflict.

Escalating Violence and Regional Instability

The recent attacks underscore the volatile situation in Mali, where armed groups with different agendas have joined forces against the ruling junta. The April offensive and the subsequent attacks in Mopti represent a significant escalation, with fighters striking at the heart of the country’s military government.

The crisis has also exacerbated humanitarian concerns. As Al Jazeera’s Nicolas Haque noted, civilians are caught at the height of the dry season, with months without rain and conflict over water resources adding to the strain. The violence has displaced thousands and disrupted livelihoods across the region.

International observers have called for restraint and renewed efforts to find a political solution. However, with the junta increasingly reliant on military responses, including the use of drone strikes, the prospects for de-escalation appear limited.

Mixed Reports on Casualties

Reports on the death toll from the Mopti attacks vary. While AFP sources cite at least 30 killed, Reuters, citing three separate sources including an aid worker, a diplomat, and a security source, reported that the attacks on two unnamed localities in Mopti killed at least 50 people. The discrepancy highlights the difficulty of verifying casualty figures in conflict zones.

Similarly, the drone strike in San has been reported by a single source, and the Malian army has yet to respond to the allegations.

Official Responses and Calls for Justice

The Malian government has remained largely silent on the Mopti attacks, but the governor of the Bandiagara region condemned the “despicable and inhumane acts” in a statement on Thursday. Local authorities have called for a thorough investigation into the drone strikes, but no official inquiry has been announced.

Meanwhile, the international community, including the African Union and the United Nations, has expressed grave concern over the deteriorating security situation and has urged all parties to protect civilians.