Mali’s army chief sacked after 134 killed Ibrahim Boubacar Keita

BAMAKO. – Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has replaced the army chief of staff and the head of the country’s land forces – a day after 134 Fulani villagers were killed by a rival ethnic group in the Mopti Region of the country.

The government says it is banning a militia which it says was behind Saturday’s attack – the latest in a series of deadly killings. The first video footage from Ogossagou village shows the smouldering remains of people’s homes – the mud walled huts collapsed after they were torched by the attackers.

There are burnt out vehicles and on one side of the village the body of a Fulani child no more than two years old. A local mayor says pregnant women were cut open with machetes and people were thrown down wells.

The Malian government says it is banning the Dan Na Ambassagou militia or self-defence group, which it says carried out the attack. But jihadists are also active in central Mali and Fulanis have carried out attacks too.

It’s a complex conflict which the Malian army has failed to deal with. – BBC

You Might Also Like

Comments