In Mali, at least seven villagers killed in a “terrorist attack”

At least seven villagers were killed on Sunday, December 15, in a “terrorist attack” carried out in central Mali with significant material damage, Agence France-Presse learned from the bishopric of the area and a local civil society organization.

“The terrorist attack” from the village of Ségué, in the Mopti region, killed a relative of a member of the local clergy and “six other men, with a lot of material damage”said the bishopric of Mopti, in a press release signed by its secretary, Father Daniel Camille Togo.

In a separate statement, the Patriotic Movement for Unity and Safeguarding of the Bankass Circle, a civil society organization, said it had “learned with amazement of the terrorist attack targeting” Sunday the villages of Ségué and Sonfounou.

“The death toll from this deadly attack amounts to nine deaths, including seven in Ségué and two in Sonfounou”according to this press release which speaks of a “heavy toll”. “The dispensary, the village pharmacy and the ambulance were set on fire, the mayor's personal vehicle [de Ségué] burned and many motorcycles were taken away”he adds.

“Deterioration of the security situation”

The organization also announces “five women killed on Saturday” in the explosion of a mine in Diallassagou (Center). It was not possible to verify these various reports with the Malian authorities or independent sources.

Due to the “deterioration of the security situation” in the area, the Patriotic Movement for Unity and the Safeguarding of the Bankass Circle “requests air intervention for the destruction of all bases in the Bankass circle”. He also invites the authorities to “initiate investigations” and to continue “those who deliver fuel to terrorist groups”.

Since 2012, Mali has been plagued by the actions of groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State organization and the violence of community and villainous groups.