Dozens Killed in Jihadist Attacks on Villages in Central Mali

Dozens of villagers have been killed in coordinated attacks by jihadist armed groups in central Mali, according to the BBC. The strikes follow a wider escalation in the area after government forces gradually pulled back from several outposts over recent months.

Local officials said the attackers encircled a number of villages at night, set fire to homes, and seized cattle from herder families. Survivors described walking for hours to reach the nearest safe area, often carrying wounded relatives and small children.

The Malian government has not issued an official figure on the death toll. The United Nations humanitarian coordination office said emergency teams have been sent to the region, but several villages remain unreachable because roads are considered too unsafe for relief convoys.