At least ten people have been killed in a suspected jihadist attack on a civilian convoy escorted by Malian soldiers and Russian Wagner mercenaries in northern Mali, officials reported on Saturday. The ambush occurred on Friday between the northern cities of Gao and Ansongo, a region that has been plagued by jihadist violence for years.
According to local sources, heavily armed militants launched a surprise attack on the convoy, which was under military protection. A local official, speaking anonymously to AFP, said, “The jihadists ambushed a civilian convoy escorted by Malian soldiers and Wagner mercenaries. At least 10 people have been killed, and that’s a very provisional toll.” Reports indicate that both civilians and soldiers were among the casualties.
Medical sources confirmed that many of the wounded and deceased had been transported to Gao, the largest city in northern Mali. Witness accounts paint a grim picture of the attack, with a transport trade union representative stating, “According to a transporter who managed to escape, jihadists ambushed the convoy’s escort and opened fire on everyone at random to cause the largest number of victims.”
The targeted convoy comprised 22 minibuses carrying civilian passengers, six large buses, and eight lorries. Another local official reported that at least five lorries were destroyed in the assault, allegedly carried out by Islamic State (IS) jihadists. However, IS has not claimed responsibility for the attack as of yet.
The Malian army has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident. A military source, however, insisted that the situation on the ground was under control, stating, “We control the situation on the ground between Ansongo and Gao.” Despite this assurance, the road linking the two cities has become increasingly dangerous, with multiple attacks in recent months attributed to jihadist militants and criminal gangs targeting civilians.
Since 2012, Mali has been grappling with severe security challenges due to insurgent activities by groups affiliated with both Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The instability has been exacerbated by criminal elements that take advantage of the lawlessness to rob and terrorize civilians. The Malian government has relied on Russian Wagner mercenaries to bolster its military response, but the security situation remains dire.
As the nation mourns yet another violent attack, concerns over the effectiveness of counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel region continue to mount. The international community, particularly Mali’s neighboring countries, remains on high alert as jihadist groups persist in their deadly campaigns across West Africa.
