Recent attacks by jihadi rebels in central Mali have killed 132 civilians, the government announced MondayBAMAKO, Mali -- Recent attacks by jihadi rebels in central Mali have killed 132 civilians, the government announced Monday. The government said the attacks were carried out by jihadi rebels of the Katiba group. For several weeks extremist rebels in central Mali have been blocking the road between the northern city of Gao and Mopti in central Mali. Since the beginning of the year, several hundred civilians have died in attacks in central and northern Mali. The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali began in 2013, after France led a military intervention to oust extremist rebels who had taken over cities and major towns in northern Mali the year before.

Source: ABC News June 21, 2022 04:04 UTC