Djiguibombo massacre
Mass murder by armed attackers in Mali
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On 1 July 2024, a group of armed men entered Djiguibombo, in the Mopti Region of Mali, and massacred dozens of civilians.[1] The attackers, who targeted a wedding ceremony, rode into the village on motorcycles.[2] While the attackers have not been identified, and no group has claimed responsibility,[1][2][3] local government officials blamed the attack on militants.[1][2][3][4] The death toll of the attack has been pegged as at least 21 by local residents and some government officials,[2][5] although other officials have stated that around 40 people were killed.[1][3]
Background
Since the start of the Mali War in 2012, northern and central Mali have experienced frequent violence from multiple factions, including ones tied to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.[5] Since gaining power after the 2020 coup,[3] Mali's military leaders have struggled to contain the violence,[2] and a 2015 peace deal with Tuareg rebels collapsed.[6]
Perpetrators
Numerous local government officials stated they were unable to identify the attackers,[1] who arrived via motorcycles.[2] However, one attributed the attacks to "jihadists".[5] A reporter for the Associated Press said while no group claimed responsibility for the attack, "it follows the pattern of ones by the al-Qaida-linked JNIM extremist group which often targets the region".[2]