Malian national flags were at half mast in Bamako on Tuesday, the first of the three days of mourning decreed by the government, following weekend attacks that killed dozens in the center of the country. The attacks show that Islamic extremist violence is spreading from Mali's north to more central areas like Bankass. For several weeks extremist rebels in central Mali have been blocking the road between Mopti and the northern city of Gao. Since the beginning of the year, several hundred civilians have died in attacks in central and northern Mali. The attacks are blamed on jihadi rebels as well as the Malian army, according to a report by the human rights division of the U.N. mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 25, 2022 10:34 UTC