Gunmen Kill Scores in Fresh Central Mali Attacks

At least 30 people have been killed in coordinated attacks by suspected al-Qaeda-linked fighters in central Mali, according to local and security sources, marking one of the deadliest assaults since armed groups escalated operations across the country late last month.

The attacks reportedly targeted the villages of Korikori and Gomossogou in the Mopti region on Wednesday. Multiple sources cited by Reuters and AFP said the death toll could be as high as 50.

The violence comes just a day after armed fighters stormed the high-security Kenieroba Central Prison near the capital, Bamako, and disrupted major food supply routes into the city.

Mali has faced a sharp resurgence in insecurity since late April, when the al-Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) reportedly coordinated operations with the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). The alliance has intensified pressure on the military government led by Colonel Assimi Goita.

Military officials say fighters are attempting to expand their presence along strategic roads leading to western and central Mali, including routes to Kayes and Kita, causing major travel and supply disruptions.

Speaking in Bamako, army commander Djibrilla Maiga warned that the threat from armed groups “is still present,” although he claimed security forces had killed several hundred fighters since the recent offensive began.

The latest clashes have further deepened concerns over instability in Mali, where years of insurgency, political upheaval and communal tensions continue to fuel violence, particularly in the country’s central and northern regions.

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