Armed jihadists launched coordinated assaults on five villages in the Bandiagara area late yesterday afternoon, resulting in significant casualties.

The attacks targeted Logo, Soulakanda, and Dimbal in Dimbal commune, as well as Ogossagou and Kouroundé in Bankass commune. Local hunters known as dozos, who often fill security gaps left by state forces, clashed with the attackers. Reports indicate at least twenty fatalities, including civilians and traditional hunters.

A spokesperson for the dozo hunters expressed frustration over the absence of military intervention during the assaults. No official statement has been issued by Malian authorities regarding the incident.

communities on edge after fresh violence

The recent violence has triggered mass displacements, with residents fleeing toward nearby towns like Bankass, where internally displaced populations are already struggling. Concerns are mounting over the humanitarian response to this new influx, as similar attacks earlier this month left more than fifty dead in the same region.

Jihadist factions had previously warned of further reprisals against villages harboring dozo bases that refuse to comply with local agreements imposed by armed groups.