At least 31 people were killed in a militant attack on a bus in central Mali. The incident happened on Friday, when the militants also fired upon a UN peacekeeping convoy passing through the Mali Gaon’s region, killing one person. The bus was travelling to its twice-weekly route when it was attacked by unidentified gunmen.
According to the mayor of the nearby town, Moulaye Guindo, the armed men shot at the bus and slashed its tires, after which they started firing towards the people, before putting it on fire. While many people are still missing, 31 people are confirmed dead in the incident.
The peacekeeping convoy from the UN was travelling to Gao from the northern city of Kidal and was attacked about 100 km northeast of Bourem.
The place where this incident happened is a part of the Mopti region, which has lately become the epicenter of violence by the insurgents. These insurgency activities are linked to the Islamic State and al-Qaeda. The regions of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have recently witnessed a surge in Jihadist attacks, that has led to thousands of killings and left millions homeless.
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The UN mission Minusma is active in the region, with 13000 troops deployed to contain the insurgent activities. However, since its commencement in 2013, Minusma has witnessed over 250 fatalities, making it one of the world’s deadliest peacekeeping missions.