The attack took place in a rural commune in the Gao Region. The crisis in Mali, extending into the rest of the Sahel, has similar features than the Libyan crisis, with so many militias and foreign forces involved. Sources say the raid was a reprisal attack following another attack that took place inside Mali, resulting in the killing of many Malian Touaregs. The International Red Cross says communal conflicts are not unusual in the region this time of the year. This year, however, the Red Cross suggests that the intensity of the violence is rather unusually high.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 31, 2018 17:15 UTC