Dozens of people have been killed in a new wave of attacks by jihadist fighters in central Mali, according to local and security sources.
The assaults, which took place on Friday, were claimed by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-linked organisation that had already carried out deadly attacks earlier in the week.
Authorities said the violence followed coordinated raids on several villages in central Mali, with some officials estimating the total death toll from recent days at more than 70, while others put the figure as high as 80.
The attacks came just two days after similar strikes on Wednesday that left at least 30 people dead, further worsening insecurity in the region.
A local youth leader described the situation as devastating, accusing nearby military positions of failing to respond despite repeated calls for assistance.
Security sources described the situation in central Mali as “worrying,” adding that the attackers were targeting villages that had refused to enter into local agreements with armed groups.
The latest violence comes amid a broader escalation in Mali’s security crisis following an unprecedented attack last month involving JNIM and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) against the country’s military junta.
Since then, several areas in northern Mali have reportedly fallen under the control of armed groups, deepening concerns over the state of security in the country.
