Islamic State-Linked Militants Kill At Least 48 Civilians in Eastern Mali Attacks
Islamic State-linked militants kill at least 48 civilians in eastern Mali's Menaka region. Policy Wire covers the escalating violence and casualties.
POLICY WIRE — Bamako, Mali — Islamic State-linked militants have killed at least 48 people in eastern Mali during a wave of weekend violence across the Menaka region. Security and community sources confirmed the provisional death toll could be even higher, ranging from 48 to more than 70 victims.
The coordinated assaults targeted at least five localities in the northeastern territory. Armed assailants arrived riding motorcycles to strike remote camps, which were predominantly inhabited by members of the Daoussahak community.
According to local officials and the executive bureau of the Daoussahak community, the offensive was carried out by fighters belonging to the Islamic State Sahel Province. Witnesses reported that attackers set homes ablaze and looted property during the raids.
Sources indicated that the bloodshed served as an apparent retaliation. The militant offensive followed previous abuses and attacks directed against suspected informants by pro-government forces, which included members of Russia’s Africa contingent.
The surging violence forced hundreds of terrified civilians to flee their homes and seek safety in Menaka town. Community representatives and security officials continue to assess the full scale of the devastation left in the wake of the weekend raids.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
