Al Qaeda-linked insurgents attacked two villages in central Mali on Wednesday night, killing around 50 people, including members of pro-government self-defence forces and civilians, according to three sources cited by Reuters.
The attacks took place in the Mopti region and are considered the deadliest known assaults since the Islamist militant group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) aligned with the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) for coordinated operations across Mali in late April.
A humanitarian worker, a diplomat and a security source confirmed the attacks to Reuters. A resident of Bankass, located near the targeted villages, also confirmed that armed men stormed the localities during the night.
“Unidentified armed men burst in, opening fire and ransacking the village,” the resident said.
Authorities have not officially confirmed how many civilians were among the dead. In central Mali, local hunting groups and self-defence militias often operate alongside the Malian military to protect communities from militant attacks.
The latest violence comes amid escalating insecurity across Mali following coordinated attacks launched on April 25 by insurgent groups. According to Malian army commander Djibrilla Maiga, militants are attempting to reorganize after earlier operations that reportedly killed Defence Minister Sadio Camara and forced Russian-aligned forces out of the strategic northern town of Kidal.
“The threat is still present,” Maiga said during a press conference in Bamako, while adding that military operations were continuing to disrupt insurgent movements.
Maiga also stated that JNIM had announced plans to impose a blockade on the capital, Bamako, by setting up checkpoints on major access roads. According to the military, insurgents are focusing on routes toward Kayes and Kita in western Mali, while roads toward Segou remain accessible.
The military further claimed that security forces had “neutralised” several hundred militants since the April 25 attacks. Maiga said insurgents had also targeted the residence of transitional leader Assimi Goita using an explosives-laden vehicle, though security forces reportedly defused the threat before detonation.
Mali continues to face growing instability as armed Islamist groups expand operations across the Sahel region despite ongoing military campaigns.