Massacre in Mali: Jihadists target civilian convoy near Gao
Jihadists are believed to have caused a massacre in the northern part of Mali. The attackers operated with the intent to inflict as many casualties as possible, witnesses report. The latest accounts indicate more than 50 victims resulted from the attack.
The gruesome attack occurred on Friday near the town of Kobe, approximately 30 kilometres from the city of Gao. This region has seen activity from groups allied with ISIS and Al-Qaeda for decades. The attack on a convoy of vehicles, which was escorted by Malian soldiers and mercenaries from the Russian Wagner Group, led to over 50 fatalities.
- People were jumping out of vehicles to escape. There were many civilian dead and injured - said a local government representative on Saturday. - The jihadists set an ambush for a civilian convoy escorted by Malian soldiers and Wagner mercenaries - added a councilor of the local community in his report for AFP.
At the hospital in Gao, it was reported that 56 bodies had been brought in. The number of Malian soldiers killed remains unknown.
Earlier, AFP reported, citing a local councilor, that the convoy was escorted by Malian soldiers and mercenaries from the Russian Wagner Group and was presumably attacked by jihadists.
A representative of the Malian transport union reported that one driver who managed to escape said the jihadists "shot at everyone indiscriminately to ensure as many casualties as possible."
Another councilor mentioned that the convoy of 22 minibuses carrying civilians was secured by about ten vehicles with Malian soldiers and Wagner Group mercenaries, while the jihadists belonged to ISIS.
The Malian army has not officially confirmed this information, and by Saturday morning, ISIS had not claimed responsibility for the attack.
Since 2012, Mali has been suffering a deep security crisis caused, among other factors, by attacks from groups associated with Al-Qaeda and ISIS, as well as criminal gangs. According to the International Organization for Migration, thousands have already perished in the attacks, and over 3.2 million people have been displaced.
Wagner Group
The Wagner Group operates in several African countries - including the Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya, and Mozambique. The group undertakes military operations in these regions to support local regimes and has been repeatedly accused of human rights violations, including carrying out executions and torture.
Experts suggest that the presence of Wagner operatives in Africa is linked to Russia's geopolitical interests, including access to Africa's natural resources, such as gold and diamonds.
