Mopti bus massacre
| Mopti bus massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Mali War | |
| Location | Mopti Region, Mali |
| Date | December 3, 2021 |
| Deaths | 31 |
| Perpetrators | Probably Islamist rebels |
A massacre occurred on December 3, 2021, in Mopti Region in central Mali. A group of unknown insurgents shot at a bus and set it on fire, killing 31 civilians. Most of the victims were women travelling from the town of Songo-Doubacore to a market in the town of Bandiagara.[1]
The mayor of the closest town, Bankass, said that the gunmen shot the tires on the bus before going on to shoot the civilians to death.[1] After the crime scene was visited by state security officers,[1] they found 25 burnt bodies in the vehicle's trunk.[2]
The massacre happened on the same day that Islamist rebels attacked a group in the region, killing two UN peacekeepers. The attacks were part of a bigger campaign by jihadists in West Africa.[3]
Reactions[change | change source]
Mali's president, Assimi Goïta, ordered all people in Mali to fly the country's flags at half-mast from Sunday to Tuesday, during which Mali would hold three national days of mourning.[3]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Mali: Dozens of civilians killed after militants attack bus". BBC News. 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ↑ "Militants kill at least 31 in central Mali, say local authorities". Reuters. 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Suspected jihadists kill at least 30 in central Mali". France 24. 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2021-12-04.