At least 18 civilians were killed by suspected jihadists near Diallassagou, central Mali, sources told AFP on Sunday, May 26, 2024.
The attack, which left 21 others wounded, is the latest in a series of violent incidents in the region.
“The jihadists fired at villagers three kilometres from Diallassagou. The provisional toll is 18 dead and 21 wounded,” said three local residents. A police source and a regional official confirmed the attack, attributing it to “terrorists” and “armed men.”
“We confirm. The terrorists killed civilians in Diallassagou in cold blood,” the police source reported, adding, “there are 19 dead and 21 wounded. They accuse the civilians of helping the Malian army.”
An anonymous official in Bandiagara, about 60 kilometres from Diallassagou, stated that “unidentified armed men killed 19 farmers in their fields. All of the victims are those who have been displaced and settled in Diallassagou.” Another Bandiagara official also reported 19 farmers killed by unidentified assailants.
In June 2022, over 130 civilians were killed in the same village, one of the worst attacks in recent years. The government blamed the incident on Katiba Macina, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group, which denied the allegations.
Since 2012, Mali has been embroiled in conflicts involving independence and Salafist insurgencies in the north. Central Mali has seen increasing violence since 2015, largely due to jihadist groups led by Fulani preacher Amadou Koufa. This violence has spilled over into Burkina Faso and Niger, with clashes between Fulani herders and Bambara and Dogon farmers, leading to the formation of ethnic self-defense groups.
The deteriorating security situation, remote locations, and lack of reliable information often delay the confirmation of such attacks.
