| Djiguibombo massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Mali War | |
| Location | Djiguibombo, Mali |
| Date | 1 July 2024 |
| Deaths | Around 40 |
| Perpetrators | Unknown |
On 1 July 2024, a group of armed men entered Djiguibombo, in the Mopti Region of Mali, and massacred dozens of civilians. [1] The attackers, who targeted a wedding ceremony, rode into the village on motorcycles. [2] While the attackers have not been identified, and no group has claimed responsibility, [1] [2] [3] local government officials blamed the attack on militants. [1] [2] [3] [4] The death toll of the attack has been pegged as at least 21 by local residents and some government officials, [2] [5] although other officials have stated that around 40 people were killed. [1] [3]
Since the start of the Mali War in 2012, northern and central Mali have experienced frequent violence from multiple factions, including ones tied to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. [5] Since gaining power after the 2020 coup, [3] Mali's military leaders have struggled to contain the violence, [2] and a 2015 peace deal with Tuareg rebels collapsed. [6]
Numerous local government officials stated they were unable to identify the attackers, [1] who arrived via motorcycles. [2] However, one attributed the attacks to "jihadists". [5] A reporter for the Associated Press said while no group claimed responsibility for the attack, "it follows the pattern of ones by the al-Qaida-linked JNIM extremist group which often targets the region". [2]