Jihadist Attack on Convoy with Army and Wagner Group in Northern Mali - At Least 32 Killed

Jihadist Attack on Convoy with Army and Wagner Group in Northern Mali - At Least 32 Killed

A suspected jihadist attack on a convoy escorted by the Malian army and Russia's Wagner group in northern Mali has resulted in the deaths of 32 people, a local official and an NGO reported on Saturday (February 7). Initially, 10 deaths were reported, but the toll later rose to 32.

The attack occurred on Friday between the northern cities of Gao and Ansongo. A local official told AFP, "The jihadists ambushed a civilian convoy escorted by Malian soldiers and Wagner mercenaries. At least 10 people have been killed, and that's a provisional toll. The dead include both soldiers and civilians."

On Saturday (February 8), a medical source confirmed that many of the dead and wounded had been transferred to Gao, the main city in northern Mali.

Mali’s Struggle Against Jihadist Terrorism

Since 2012, Mali has faced significant security challenges due to violence from jihadist groups such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS, as well as local criminal gangs.

In response to these issues, Mali's military rulers severed ties with their former colonial power, France, and shifted their political and military alliances towards Russia. Last year, jihadist attacks took place in Mali in September and December. The December attack led to the death of at least 20 people, and six villages were burned.

The responsibility for the September attack was claimed by an Al-Qaeda-linked group. A military training school and other areas in the city of Bamako were targeted in the attack.