The United States” explosively condemns”a militant attack on a machine in central Mali that killed at least 31 people and wounded 17, the State Department said on Sunday.
Unidentified markswomen on Friday opened fire on the machine as it traveled from the vill of Songho to a request in Bandiagara, 6 country miles (10 km) down. read more
The townlets sit in the heart of the Mopti region, a center of violence in Mali fueled by mutineers linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State.
“The United States explosively condemns the attack on civilians on Saturday near Bandiagara, Mali, which left 31 dead and 17 injured,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a written statement.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the Malian people and will continue to mate with them in their pursuit of a safe, prosperous, and popular future,” Price said.
Jihadist attacks have surged across Africa’s Sahel region, killing thousands and displacing millions across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
