At least 26 civilians were killed in a brutal attack on a village in central Mali’s Mopti region on Sunday, a local official confirmed on Monday.
The assailants, suspected to be linked to militant groups, opened fire on villagers working in their fields.
The attack took place in the Circle of Bankass, a region notorious for its escalating violence. Despite the deployment of soldiers to the area, they arrived after the massacre, according to Bankass Mayor Moulaye Guindo.
He expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in the West African nation.
The Malian army has yet to provide a statement regarding the incident. The attack is the latest in a series of violent assaults targeting civilians in the region.
Similar attacks in Bankass earlier this year claimed the lives of over 60 people.
The Sahel region has been grappling with a growing insurgency since 2012, which has spread beyond Mali’s borders into neighboring countries.
The violence has displaced millions and caused thousands of deaths.
The inability of governments to protect civilians has contributed to multiple coups in the region, with military juntas increasingly turning to Russia for support.
The international community has expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in Mali and the Sahel.
As the region continues to face a humanitarian crisis, efforts to stabilize the situation and address the root causes of the conflict remain a top priority.
