Gunmen killed at least 21 civilians during an attack on Friday in a village in Mopti district, central Yesan area that continues to be affected by the action of jihadist organizations, two Reuters sources in the area said on Saturday.
The unknown gunmen raided Yarou village, not far from Badiagara town, yesterday evening, the sources explained.
“There was a real massacre, armed men rushed into the village and started shooting people. The toll is heavy, 20 to 30 dead and wounded”the first of the sources said by phone.
The second source explained how 21 people were killed, including women, and another 11 were injured.
Reuters notes that it was unable to independently verify this information.
No organization has claimed responsibilityat least so far.
The West African country has been faced since 2012 with a deep security crisis, due in particular to the guerilla warfare of organizations that swear allegiance to either Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State, which the Tuareg separatist insurgency in the north has transformed into.
Jihadist activity gradually spread from the north to the central part of the country and neighboring Sahel states, Burkina Faso and Niger. Thousands of people were killed and millions forced from their homes.
The population’s desperation over insecurity facilitated the two military coups in Mali since August 2020. The military junta burned bridges with France and Bamako’s other Western allies and turned to Russia. Western sources say Wagner Company forces have been deployed in Mali. The junta denies it, talks about Russian trainers.
The military regime’s unexpected demand in June for the UN peacekeeping force operating in the country (MINUSMA) to leave has raised concerns that Mali could slide further into chaos.
Source: News Beast
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