Mali
Mali: 49 civilians, 15 soldiers die as terrorists attack boat, military base
At least 64 people, including 49 civilians, were killed as terrorists attacked an army base and a passenger boat on the Niger River in northern Mali on Thursday, media reports said.
The Islamist terror group members reportedly attacked an army camp in Bamba which left 15 soldiers killed.
According to reports, 50 terrorists were also killed in the incident.
Terrorists also attacked a boat on River Niger in Timbuktu which left several civilians dead.
Extremist Islamist insurgent group JNIM, an umbrella coalition of armed groups aligned with al-Qaida, has claimed responsibility for the incident.
"In response to this double attack, a combined air-land action by our valiant FAMa made it possible to neutralize around 50 terrorists," the Malian government said in a statement.
"Immediate arrangements were made to evacuate all passengers and secure the places which are still the subject of sweeping and surveillance," read the statement.
A few hours after the attacks, Mali's interim president, Assimi Goita, declared a three-day national mourning starting Thursday, reports Xinhua.
Since 2012, Mali has been plagued by insurgencies, jihadist incursions, and inter-community violence that have left thousands of people dead and hundreds of thousands displaced.
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