For more than a decade, Mali and the larger Sahel region of West Africa have been in the grips of Islamist violence as affiliates of terrorist groups Al Qaeda and ISIS have carried out attacks.
Suspected jihadists in Africa’s Mali have abducted more than 110 civilians, according to a report.
For more than a decade, Mali and the larger Sahel region of West Africa have been in the grips of Islamist violence. Affiliates of terrorist groups Al Qaeda and ISIS, along with bandits and self-declared self-defence forces, have been fighting in the region since 2012.
On April 16, three buses carrying civilians were stopped by suspected jihadists, who forced the vehicles and passengers to head to a forest between Bandiagara and Bankass, a local group and an elected official told AFP news agency.
The elected official from Bandiagara, who remained anonymous for security reasons, told the agency: “The three buses and the passengers, more than 120, are still being held by jihadists.”
The report said “the Bandiagara associations condemned the “persistence of terrorist attacks”, the “growing numbers of displaced” people in towns, and “the lack of action by the armed forces”.
The violence of Mali has spilt over into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger as well. All three countries have seen coups in which their militaries have seized power from civilian governments. The three countries under military regimes have pledged to leave the regional grouping Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and have formed their own tripartite alliance.
Following a surge in military operations since late 2023, violence has increased in the country. The AFP report, however, noted that armed groups have continued attacks in the central and southern parts of the country despite the government offensives.