More than 40 civilians have been killed in weekend assaults by armed men on residential camps across Mali's northeastern Menaka region, security and community sources confirmed.
The assailants arrived on motorcycles, storming settlements primarily housing members of the Daoussahak community approximately 50 kilometres from the town of Menaka, in and around the village of Tinabow and the Tagadayat area.
The Daoussahak community's executive bureau suspected Daesh terror group was behind the attack, condemned the incident as a "massacre," and appealed for emergency humanitarian assistance for survivors displaced to Menaka.
The community is also the origin of the armed group MSA.
A Gao-based security source told AFP the killings occurred "in retaliation for military operations carried out in the area recently and for attacks by the MSA," adding that initial reports indicated around 40 fatalities, mostly men.
Regional displacement
Another security official said the death toll had reached 50, noting that gunmen "fired at anything that moved... including young people and the elderly."
A local eyewitness from Tinabow described how "several dozen motorcycles suddenly arrived, and the attackers began shooting and setting homes on fire. They didn't speak to anyone. They just started killing. I saw dozens of bodies."
An elected local official confirmed seeing more than 50 bodies, including women and the elderly.
Mali has grappled since 2012 with a multi-front security crisis pitting the national armed forces and paramilitary allies against militant groups, Tuareg separatist groups, and criminal networks.
The military junta took power following coups in 2020 and 2021 in country.
The Malian military confirmed it conducted strikes on Saturday approximately 65 kilometres southwest of Menaka, targeting "a major base housing several terrorist elements and military equipment."
