Mali
Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for two attacks that killed at least two firefighters and three civilians Monday near Bamako, in a statement authenticated by the U.S. NGO SITE, which specializes in tracking radical groups, accessed Wednesday by AFP.
The jihadists of the al-Qaeda affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM, JNIM in Arabic) "claimed responsibility for two simultaneous attacks against a fire station and an environmental and forest protection unit located near the Malian capital Bamako," the statement said.
READ ALSO: Al-Shabab militants kill two men near Kenya’s east coast
The attacks targeted the towns of Markacoungo and Kassela, both on the Bamako-Ségou highway in southeastern Mali, an area where they are relatively rare.
Al Qaeda did not give a toll for these attacks. The Malian Ministry of Security and Civil Protection said Tuesday that the Markacoungo attack killed two firemen and three civilians.
Mali, a Sahelian country, has been fighting a jihadist insurgency for a decade that has spread to neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso.
READ ALSO: Twin bombings targeting Somalia's military kill at least 19
The junta in power since 2020 has brought in Russians, whom it presents as military instructors to help fight the jihadists.
Westerners describe the military instructors as mercenaries from the paramilitary group Wagner, close to the Kremlin.
Go to video
Algeria, Mali dissension laid bare after UN speech
01:05
Burkina Faso calls out foreign powers “deliberately exacerbating suffering” of Sahelians
01:16
Congo’s President Tshisekedi calls for sanctions against Rwanda
00:55
Burkina Faso foiled an attempt to destabilize the country - Security minister
01:40
Al Shabab steps up IED attacks as Somali army goes on offensive
00:55
Islamist armed groups terrorize civilians in Burkina Faso-Human Rights Watch