| Djiguibombo massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of theMali 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 theMopti Region ofMali, 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 theMali War in 2012, northern and central Mali have experienced frequent violence from multiple factions, including ones tied toAl-Qaeda and theIslamic State.[5] Since gaining power after the2020 coup,[3] Mali's military leaders have struggled to contain the violence,[2] and a 2015 peace deal withTuareg 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 theAssociated Press said while no group claimed responsibility for the attack, "it follows the pattern of ones by theal-Qaida-linkedJNIM extremist group which often targets the region".[2]