On 11 September, six civilians travelling in an ambulance were killed after it accidentally hit a landmine. One of the six civilians was a pregnant woman, who was intended to be brought to the hospital.

According to the Mali Ministry’s Secretary General, the incident represented the first one in  the southern Sikasso Region. While it is unclear who was responsible for the planting of mines, militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State routinely attack soldiers and civilians in northern and central Mali.

Mali is facing a critical political phase, as last month military officers overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. The officers claimed that  the Ex-President’s failure to address the increasing insecurity caused by jihadists and ethnic militias had destabilised violence in Burkina Faso and Niger, despite the presence of French troops and UN peacekeepers.

In addition, on 9 September, eight civilians from the Dogon ethnic group were killed by suspected jihadist fighters in central Mali’s Mopti region. The attack occurred after weeks of pause of fights between rival ethnic groups.

Negotiations about a transition back to civilian rule after the coup of 18 August are expected to be concluded  on 19 September.

To know more, please read:

https://af.reuters.com/article/idAFKBN2630M1-OZATP

Author: Carolina Tellez; Editor: Sara Gorelli