A violent attack carried out by militants affiliated with the Islamic State group has resulted in the deaths of 48 people in the Ménaka region of eastern Mali, according to a lawmaker. Moussa Ag Acharatoumane, a Tuareg leader and member of the National Transitional Council, stated that the assault occurred between Sunday night and Monday morning, with casualties including both children and the elderly.
According to Ag Acharatoumane, the assailants targeted civilians, accusing them of providing information about the positions of the Islamic State in Sahel Province (ISSP) to the Malian army. The military had reportedly been conducting drone strikes against the group in the area. While the ISSP maintains a significant presence in the Ménaka region—where it competes with the militant group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and operates across borders in Burkina Faso and Niger—it has not claimed responsibility for this specific attack.
The Malian army reported on Monday that it had successfully targeted a major base used by “several terrorist elements” located 65 kilometers (40 miles) southwest of the town of Ménaka. The military stated that the site, which housed logistical supplies and military equipment, was struck after intelligence was confirmed and the situation was assessed. Despite the military governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger seizing power and seeking assistance from Russia to address the ongoing instability, the Sahel region remains one of the world's deadliest areas for extremist violence.
