Islamist militants in Mali have attacked a boat in the northeastern part of the country. The interim government reports that at least 49 innocent people have been killed in the attack.
They also supposedly attacked a military camp, causing the death of 15 soldiers, and approximately 50 militants are believed to have died.
The government has announced that everyone in the country will be sad and remember someone for three days.
The threat from Islamist militants has been increasing, even though the military says that Russian Wagner Group mercenaries are helping to change the situation in their favor.
The city of Timbuktu in the north has been blocked off since the end of last month, and there have been other recent attacks on transportation.
The BBC could not check if the government’s recent report, which was read on TV, was true.
A group of fighters attacked the boat while it was sailing on the River Niger from Gao to Mopti. The river is an important way for transportation in an area with not many good roads or train tracks.
Another group of fighters also launched an assault on a military base located in the Bourem Circle of the Gao region.
The Malian army shared on social media that a boat was attacked by “armed terrorist groups” around 1100 GMT.
The group called Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), which is connected to al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack on the military camp. However, they have not mentioned anything about the attack on the boat. It is one of many groups that follow Islamic beliefs and operate in the northern part of Mali and nearby countries.
The boat company, Comanav, told AFP news agency that the ship was hit by three rockets that were aimed at its engines.
The boat was stuck on the river and the military came to help people leave, said an official from Comanav (a company), who wanted to stay anonymous.
Since 2020, Mali has been governed by a group of military leaders.
Many people were in favor of the military taking control after large protests against the President. People were angry because they weren’t sure what would happen with the economy, the election was being argued about, and there was a lot of ongoing insecurity.
Afterward, information shows that Mali’s military government hasn’t made much progress in its efforts to fight against the Islamists who are in control of certain areas in the country.
The military leaders in Mali have told French troops and UN peacekeepers to leave the country. They have also asked Russian workers to come and take their place.
A rebel group connected to al-Qaeda and Islamic State started in the northern part of Mali in 2012. Extremist fighters who follow Islam have expanded their influence, moving throughout the Sahel area and particularly to Burkina Faso and Niger.
Tag: Islamist militants
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Mali river boat attack claimed dozens of lives
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The government has retaken control of dozens of villages and towns in recent months.
Al-Shabab is facing serious challenges as a result of American airstrikes, African Union troops, the Somali army, and an allied militia.
According to the mayor of Adan Yabal, the town was taken without incident.
The jihadist group had used it as a training base and a hub for its operations across central Somalia.
After President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s election in May, he declared all-out war against al-Shabab.
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The attack against Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM) happened on Thursday, October 20, 2022, and several families have moved to Montepuez town.
Montepuez Ruby Mining evacuated all its employees and contractors to the town, local media report.
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A local radio station reported that security forces were already in the area.
Montepuez Ruby Mining is extracting rubies from one of the largest deposits of rubies in the world.
In 2009 a vast deposit of rubies was discovered in northern Mozambique and now half the world’s red gemstones come from there.
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Burkina Faso coup leader to become interim president
The man who led the latest coup in Burkina Faso has been named interim president until elections in July 2024.
A national forum declared that Capt Ibrahim Traoré would not be allowed to stand in the polls.
He seized power two weeks ago from Lt-Gen Paul-Henri Damiba, who staged a coup in January accusing the authorities of failing to deal with Islamist militants.
The insurgency intensified after the general’s takeover, prompting Capt Traoré to remove him by force.
Source: BBC.com
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Islamist militants clash in West Africa
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In its online publication, al-Naba, it described members of al-Qaeda’s Sahel affiliate as apostates and wild dogs.
IS said it had targeted its rivals with a suicide bombing and other attacks.
It was reported earlier that al-Qaeda militants had rejected an IS offer of a ceasefire in exchange for the release of IS prisoners and the payment of blood money for the deaths of IS militants.
Islamist attacks have intensified in the Sahel in recent months.
Source:Â bbc.com