Deadly attacks spark fear and heavy patrols. Pic AIG
Yasmin Bilal
Fear and grief have once again gripped central Mali after coordinated attacks on two villages left dozens of people dead, highlighting the country’s deepening security crisis.
At least 30 people have been killed in coordinated attacks on two villages in central Mali, in what officials describe as one of the deadliest assaults in the country in recent weeks.
The attacks took place in the Mopti Region, where armed fighters stormed the villages of Kori Kori and Gomossogou. Local sources said both civilians and members of pro-government self-defence groups were among the dead.
Security sources said the attacks were carried out by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, an al-Qaeda-linked militant group that has expanded its operations across the Sahel.
The violence comes as Mali continues to face a worsening security crisis following a wave of coordinated assaults by jihadist and separatist groups in recent weeks.
No official casualty toll had been released by Mali’s military at the time of publication, but humanitarian sources said the death toll could rise as recovery efforts continue.