Omanghana
At least 48 civilians have reportedly been killed in attacks on camps in northeastern Mali’s Ménaka region, with suspected Islamic State-linked fighters blamed for the violence.
The attacks took place between Sunday night and Monday morning around Tinabow village and the Tagadayat area, approximately 50 kilometers from Ménaka town. Children and elderly people were among those killed, while at least 11 others remain missing.
The victims were mainly nomadic herders from the Daoussahak community, also known as the Idaksahak. Armed men travelling on motorcycles reportedly raided the settlements, burned homes and seized livestock, forcing hundreds of families to flee towards Ménaka.
Local sources attributed the attacks to the Islamic State in Sahel Province, saying the fighters accused residents of sharing information about their positions with the Malian military and the pro-government Movement for the Salvation of Azawad.
The killings followed military operations against insurgents in the area. On Saturday, Malian forces, supported by international partners, reportedly struck a militant base about 65 kilometers southwest of Ménaka.
Local administrative sources also alleged that members of the Movement for the Salvation of Azawad and Russia’s Africa Corps had committed abuses against communities suspected of supporting Islamic State fighters in the days preceding the attacks.
The sequence of violence has raised concerns about civilians being targeted by rival armed groups over accusations of collaboration. Although local accounts described the latest killings as retaliation, the attackers’ precise motives have not been independently established.
The violence underscores the continuing insecurity in Mali, where the military-led government is battling Islamic State fighters and al-Qaeda-linked insurgents, including Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin.
Mali’s authorities have increasingly relied on Russian military support in their counter-insurgency campaign. However, allegations of civilian deaths and other abuses have intensified scrutiny of those operations.
Human Rights Watch has also raised concerns about civilian harm from state drone strikes and other alleged violations, highlighting the risks facing communities caught in the conflict.
Source: Omanghana
