Militant Attack in Mali's North Leaves More Than 20 Dead
- Mali’s Gao and Menaka regions rocked by rise in violence
- Clashes between fighters from Tuareg, Fulani groups surge
Malian army soldiers, pro-government militia members, and former rebels, predominantly Tuaregs, take part in a joint patrol in Gao, Mali on Feb. 23, 2017.
Source: AFP via Getty ImagesAt least 20 people have been killed in a militia attack on an ethnic Tuareg organization in Mali’s Gao region, which has witnessed a surge of violence between armed groups even as French and West African troops are carrying out anti-jihadist operations in the area.
Gunmen in vehicles and on motorbikes attacked a checkpoint close to the Niger border that was manned by militants from the Movement for the Salvation of Azawad, a Tuareg group, Agence France-Presse reported Monday, citing local officials. It wasn’t immediately clear who was responsible for the raid, the Paris-based agency said.