At least 31 people were killed in a militant attack on a passenger bus in Mali. Eight more people were injured, RIA Novosti reports on Saturday, December 4, citing a local source.
It is noted that the attack took place in the east of the country near the city of Bandiagara (Mopti region).
Earlier, on November 11, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, following talks with his Malian counterpart Abdulai Diop, said that Moscow is aware of the need to bolster Mali’s defenses in the face of increased terrorist activity and help the country preserve its territorial integrity. According to Lavrov, a power vacuum that could arise in the north of the country in connection with France’s decision to withdraw parts of its contingent from Mali and close three out of five military bases in areas where terrorist formations are most active cannot be allowed.
The armed conflict in Mali between government forces and militants of various separatist and Islamist groups began in 2012. The situation in the country has aggravated due to the situation in Libya after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi. Then Tuareg rebels and several Islamist groups captured the north of the country, creating the self-proclaimed independent state of Azavad. In 2013, France brought troops into Mali, returning the territory to the control of the central authorities of the African republic. Since then, Islamists have used ethnic confrontations to recruit militants.
Source: IZ
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
