At Least 21 Civilians Killed in Central Mali Attack – Sources

BAMAKO (Reuters) – Gunmen killed not less than 21 civilians in an assault on a village in central Mali’s insurgency-hit Mopti area on Friday, two native sources mentioned on Saturday.

The unidentified assailants struck within the afternoon, focusing on the village of Yarou close to the city of Bandiagara, the sources mentioned, talking on situation of anonymity.

“It was actual carnage, armed males burst into the village and fired on folks. The toll is heavy between 20 and 30 killed and wounded,” one of many sources mentioned by cellphone.

The second supply mentioned the reported demise toll stood at 21 and included girls, whereas 11 others have been wounded.

Reuters was not capable of independently confirm their accounts. No group instantly claimed duty for the assault.

The West African nation is battling a violent insurgency with hyperlinks to al Qaeda and Islamic State that took root in its arid north following a Tuareg separatist insurrection in 2012.

Militants have since unfold to different international locations within the Sahel area south of the Sahara, seizing territory, killing 1000’s and uprooting hundreds of thousands of individuals within the course of.

Frustration over the rising insecurity has spurred two navy coups in Mali since August 2020. The junta has burnt bridges with conventional Western allies and turned to Russian mercenaries for assist.

Its sudden demand in June for the departure of U.N. peacekeepers has raised fears the nation may slide deeper into chaos.

(Reporting by Tiemoko Diallo; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Modifying by Alison Williams)

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