Armed men dressed in traditional hunters killed 134 people in an attack in a village of central Mali. As manya as 55 civilians were wounded in the attack in Ogossagou in the Mopti region.
The region’s Fulani ethnic community is frequently targeted and accused of having ties to jihadist organizations in the area.
The Malian government condemned the attacks, it “reiterates its determination to make every effort to hunt down the perpetrators of this barbarity of another age and to punish them, in accordance with the laws in force. In the same spirit, the government will continue to ensure the protection of the people, to recreate the conditions of true social cohesion and to promote national reconciliation. The government condemns with the utmost severity this heinous act and expresses its compassion to the families of the innocent victims.”
The group which seems to behind the attack was called Dan Na Ambassagou, is composed of members of the Dogon ethnic group. In similar attacks last year, the Human Rights Watch accused Dan Na Ambassagou of targeting members of the Fulani ethnic group which “led to dozens of civilian deaths and injuries.”
UNICEF dispatched medical teams and supplies to the ground. Most of the victims, and injured were children.
The counter operations against the Dogon community increased in recent months.
The UN spokesperson were shocked and outraged the attack. The Secretary-General condemned the act and calls on the Malian authorities to swiftly investigate it and bring the perpetrators to justice. adding that he “calls on the Malian authorities to redouble their efforts to bring back peace and stability to central Mali.”
There are nearly 3 million Fula people in Mali, who are traditionally nomadic and mostly Muslim.