Islamic State Affiliate Kills 48 in Mali Attack
Militants targeted civilians in the Ménaka region, accusing them of aiding the Malian army.
Militants affiliated with the Islamic State group killed 48 people in the Ménaka region of eastern Mali, a local official confirmed. The attack, which occurred from Sunday night into Monday morning, resulted in casualties including children and the elderly, according to Moussa Ag Acharatoumane, a Tuareg leader and member of Mali's National Transitional Council.
Acharatoumane stated that the armed group, identified as Islamic State in Sahel Province (ISSP), attacked civilians because they allegedly revealed ISSP positions to the Malian army, which had recently conducted a drone strike on the group.
ISSP primarily operates in the Ménaka region, where it faces competition from another militant group, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). The group also has a presence across Burkina Faso and Niger.