A suspected terrorist attack on a convoy escorted by the Malian army and Russia’s Wagner mercenary group has left at least 32 people dead in northern Mali, officials reported on Saturday.
The ambush occurred on Friday along the route between the northern cities of Gao and Ansongo.
“The terrorists 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,” a local official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“There are civilians and soldiers among the dead.”
By Saturday, a medical source confirmed that many of the deceased and wounded had been transported to Gao, the largest city in northern Mali.
A representative from a transport trade union relayed details from a survivor: “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.”
Another local official described the convoy’s composition, stating: “The Malian soldiers and Wagner (mercenaries) were in around 10 vehicles protecting a convoy of 22 minibuses with civilian passengers, six large buses, and eight lorries.”
“At least five lorries were destroyed by Islamic State (IS) jihadists.”
Despite the reports, IS has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Malian army has yet to issue a formal statement on the incident.
“We control the situation on the ground between Ansongo and Gao,” a military source asserted.
The road between the two cities has become increasingly dangerous in recent months, with multiple attacks attributed to terrorists or armed bandits targeting civilians.
Mali has grappled with severe security challenges since 2012, with violence driven by groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and IS, as well as local criminal gangs.
The country’s military rulers have severed ties with former colonial power France, opting instead to deepen political and military cooperation with Russia.
