Gunmen Kill 40 Civilians in Mali

More than 40 civilians have been killed in attacks on settlements in Mali’s northeastern Menaka region, with security and community sources reporting that armed men targeted camps over the weekend.

The attackers, reportedly travelling on motorcycles, raided several camps largely inhabited by members of the Daoussahak community. The community’s executive bureau blamed the Islamic State group for the killings.

The attacks occurred around Tinabow village and the Tagadayat area, approximately 50 kilometres from Menaka town.

A security source based in Gao linked the killings to recent military operations in the area and attacks by the Movement for the Salvation of Azawad (MSA), an armed group that draws support from the Daoussahak community and is aligned with Mali’s government.

Another security source said the attackers opened fire indiscriminately, killing civilians, including young people and elderly residents. People fleeing the violence were reportedly arriving in Menaka on Monday.

A resident of Tinabow told AFP that dozens of motorcycles arrived on Sunday evening before the assailants began shooting and setting houses ablaze. The resident said the attackers killed people without warning and left numerous bodies at the scene.

A local elected official also reported a high death toll, estimating that more than 50 people, including women and elderly residents, had been killed.

However, the Daoussahak community’s executive bureau confirmed 48 civilian deaths in Tagadayat on Sunday. It condemned the killings and called for urgent humanitarian assistance for people displaced by the attacks.

The Malian army said it had conducted operations in the same area on Saturday, about 65 kilometres southwest of Menaka. According to the military, its forces struck what it described as a major base containing suspected militants and military equipment.

Mali has faced a prolonged security crisis since 2012, involving the military, terrorist groups, Tuareg separatists and criminal networks. The conflict has been compounded by economic instability.

The military junta, which took power following coups in 2020 and 2021, has strengthened security ties with Russia. Russian paramilitary personnel previously associated with the Wagner Group have operated in the country, with the group’s African operations reorganised under Russia’s Africa Corps in 2025.