Kobé attack

On February 7, a convoy left the city of Gao and set off for Ansongo. According to Human Rights Watch, the convoy contained 19 civilian vehicles carrying more than a hundred civilians, escorted by five military vans and several motorcycles carrying Malian troops and allied Wagner Group forces.^[4] Both AFP and RFI reported that the convoy contained 22 minibuses, six large buses, and eight trucks escorted by ten military vehicles.^[5] The civilians were mostly gold miners of foreign nationalities, who were trying to reach a site near the Intahaka gold mine along the border with Niger.^[6]

Witnesses said that the gunshots from the attackers were sudden, and several survivors jumped off the caravan and played dead to survive.^[4] No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but ISGS is active in the area.^[4]

The Malian government released a statement on February 8 stating only three vehicles were hit, causing the death of 25 civilians and injury of 13 others.^[4][5] Malian officials also stated "19 terrorist bodies" were found in the aftermath of the attack.^[4] On February 8 and 9, AFP and RFI reported that at least 30 people were killed in the attack.^[5][6] On February 24, RFI reported that at least 20 Malian soldiers had been killed or injured in the attack.^[5] Human Rights Watch reported that 34 civilians, including 13 Malians and 21 foreigners, were killed in the attack.^[4] 34 others were injured per HRW, including 20 Malians and 14 foreigners, mostly from Niger.^[4]

Following the attack, transporters in Gao region went on strike to demand an end to army escorts and an increase in army checkpoints along the Gao-Ansongo highway.^[7]