Raiders in Mali killed at least 20 civilians in Attacks on Villages near the northern town of Zhao, while a UN peacekeeper dies in mine explosion in troubled region.
“criminal terrorists” on Saturday, at least 20 civilians were killed in several villages in Inchwaj municipality, a few dozen kilometers north of Zhao, said a senior Police officer who asked that remain Unknown.
Sweetened official put the death The death toll stood at 24, saying the killings occurred at AIPAC, about 35 kilometers (23 miles) away. north of Zhao and the neighboring hamlets.
The official in gao main town in The regiona description “general panic” in The area.
the situation in Anchovy was “extremely disturbing” and civilians were fleeing area For fear of more violence added.
Following the bloodshed on Saturday, a mine killed a UN peacekeeper on Sunday as it was out on other periodical northin Kidal, head of United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) force Wayne Ghassim tweeted.
minosma official AFP on condition of Anonymity that the peacekeeper was a part of Guinean battalion.
While there was no official confirmation That the attacks were carried out out by affiliated fighters with Either Al-Qaeda or ISIS (Islamic State) group be active in The region.
The region It has become increasingly violent and unstable since the rise of Tuareg separatist rebels up against The government in 2012.
the fighters took Features of they rebellion to launch their own offensivethreatening the capital, Bamako in The south led by the French force push them back in 2013.
Tuareg separatists and government agreed on peace agreement in 2015, but not yet implemented.
So now my money is weak, national government Facing separatist and terrorist insurgencies in The north of Country.
So do separatist groups who They were part of Stalled 2015 peace deal, Mali government also must struggle with terrorist groups.
They target those they perceive as supporters of state apparatus.
The north of The country is largely desert region That’s all but free of State infrastructure.
“a good part of gao region And that of Minaka is occupied by terrorists official in Zhao. “The state has to do something.”
some of rebel groups also They were fighting each other as they are battle for influence and territory. In addition to the volatile mix are the traffickers and others criminal groups.
Meanwhile, the government’s stability is hampered by military inversions in August 2020 and May 2021.
follow him latest Report on The area UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last The month warned of instability in Mali and Burkina Faso were undermining attempts to stabilize region.
The security situation in gao region severely deteriorated in He said the last months.
he is also express concern over Eastern Minaka region On the border with Niger.
It was initially captured by a Tuareg rebel group A decade ago, it was soon taken later over by terrorist groups.
