31 people were killed over the weekend in central Mali as ethnic groups clashed over land in a zone where the state is near-absent and jihadists roam freely. Nomadic Fulani people and farmers from the Dogon ethnic group have engaged in tit-for-tat violence sparked by Fulanis grazing their cattle on Dogon land. The Malian army confirmed “31 dead, (comprising) 27 Fulanis and four Dogons,” along with nine more injured, in a statement released Monday night. The army said it had spoken with mayors, village chiefs and imams to persuade them to halt the violence in Mopti region. Increased availability of arms from Libya has contributed to intercommunal violence in Mali, experts say, while drought has forced herders into areas traditionally cultivated by farmers.

Source: Dhaka Tribune June 20, 2017 12:22 UTC