On Saturday, August 19, 2023, the attack on a village in the Mopti region of central Mali, plagued by insurgency, resulted in the death of at least 21 civilians.
According to anonymous sources, unidentified assailants reached the village of Yarou in the afternoon, near the town of Bandiagara. “The village was ravaged by armed individuals who opened fire on the residents. The toll is concerning, with around 20 to 30 deaths and injuries,” stated one of the sources.
According to another source, there were 21 deaths, including 11 women, and 11 injured individuals. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
After a Tuareg separatist rebellion in 2012, Mali has been grappling with a violent insurgency linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State that has spread across the north. Since then, Islamist groups have expanded into other Sahel and sub-Saharan nations, gaining territory, causing the deaths of thousands of people, and displacing millions. Since August 2020, Mali has experienced two military coups due to the anger provoked by the rise in insecurity.
In seeking assistance, the country has distanced itself from its usual Western allies and turned to Russia. The unexpected departure of UN peacekeeping forces in June has raised concerns about the potential spread of chaos within the country.
