BAMAKO, Mali, Jun 21 (NNN-IRIN) – A total of 132 civilians were killed, in three villages in the rural commune of Bankass in central Mali, said a statement released yesterday by the Malian government.
According to the Malian authorities, the peaceful populations of Diallassagou, Dianweli, Deguessagou villages and surroundings, in the rural commune of Bankass, were the subject of barbaric attacks on the night of Jun 18 to 19.
Several perpetrators of the massacre have been formally identified, which are part of the fighters of the Katiba Macina of Amadou Koufa, according to the statement.
The government strongly condemns these attacks, and promises to engage all necessary means to find their perpetrators and bring them to justice.
Mali has been facing security, political and economic crises since 2012, with insurgencies, jihadist incursions and inter-community violence killing thousands, and displacing hundreds of thousands of others, in the West African country.– NNN-IRIN
