An armed group launched a brutal attack on a wedding ceremony in central Mali, killing at least 21 people, according to residents on Wednesday.
This tragic incident underscores the West African country’s ongoing struggle with escalating extremist violence under military rule.
The attackers, who rode motorcycles into the village of Djiguibombo in Bandiagara on Monday evening, struck as residents were celebrating a wedding, reported Bakary Guindo, president of the local youth group.
“Most of the victims had their throats slit,” Guindo disclosed. Another resident, Hamidou Saye, added that the assailants surrounded the large crowd before launching their assault.
While no group has yet claimed responsibility, the attack fits the pattern of violence perpetrated by the al-Qaeda-linked extremist group JNIM, which frequently targets this region.
Since 2012, central and northern Mali have been plagued by such violence. Extremist rebels were initially ousted from northern cities with the help of recently expelled French troops in 2013. However, these extremists have since regrouped, conducting attacks on isolated villages and security forces.
Nearly four years into their rule and following the withdrawal of foreign peacekeepers, Mali’s military leaders are still grappling with the violence. The collapse of a 2015 peace deal with Tuareg rebels in the north has further compounded the security crisis.
