According to the Malian Armed Forces, the army’s retaliatory attacks between Gao City and Ansongo killed at least 19 militants.
According to the army, terrorists ambushed the trucks of at least 25 gold miners near the northeastern city of Gao in Mali, killing them and injuring 13.
The General Staff of the Malian Armed Forces said in a statement late Saturday night that the army’s retaliation attacks killed at least 19 militants.
Between Gao and Ansongo, near Kobe, around 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Gao, a convoy of cars carrying gold miners employed by a foreign firm with military escort was ambushed by a group of terrorists on Friday afternoon.
“Citizens who were escaping in fear were specifically targeted by terrorists. 25 civilians were killed and 13 injured when three civilian vehicles were struck, despite the Malian Armed Forces’ (FAMa) quick response. Most of the victims were young gold miners who were traveling to the N’Tahaka gold mine in the Gao region for work with a foreign company, the report stated.
Although the terrorist organization in question was not identified in the statement, militants with ties to both Daesh and Al Qaeda have previously attacked the area.
Affecting millions
Because of the deadly attacks that have occurred in Gao throughout the years, the military has organized regular escorts for residents.
Millions of people have been displaced by violence in Mali, Burkina Fasi, and Niger in recent years, and thousands have been slain.
The military has reassured residents that security activities will continue, especially with civilian vehicle escorts along the RN-17 axis.
According to the statement, “the objective is to dismantle terrorist networks that obstruct people’s freedom of movement and finance terrorism through ransom payments”.
