An armed group carried out a deadly assault at a wedding ceremony in central Mali, resulting in the deaths of at least 21 individuals, according to local residents on Wednesday. The attack took place in Djiguibombo village in Bandiagara as people were celebrating the marriage of a couple. The president of the local youth group, Bakary Guindo, mentioned that many of the victims had their throats slit during the attack. Hamidou Saye, a resident, stated that the attackers encircled the gathering of attendees.
Although no specific group has claimed responsibility for the assault, it bears resemblance to previous attacks by the al-Qaida-linked JNIM extremist group, known for targeting the region. Central and northern Mali have been grappling with violence since 2012, when extremist rebels were ousted from power in northern cities the year after with the aid of French forces. Despite the efforts, these rebels have regrouped and continue to launch assaults on remote communities and security forces.
Mali’s military rulers, who have been in power for nearly four years and have seen the exit of foreign peacekeepers, are facing challenges in curbing the escalating violence. Additionally, a peace agreement established in 2015 with Tuareg rebels in the north has collapsed, exacerbating the security crisis in the country.
