Bamako, May 8 (SANA) More than 30 people were killed Friday in two coordinated attacks by armed groups in central Mali, according to local officials and security monitors.
A local official told AFP that at least 35 people were killed, including 25 in the town of Kori Kori and 10 in Goumoussogo, in attacks that occurred almost simultaneously.
The Sahel-focused security monitoring group Wamaps reported a preliminary death toll exceeding 50, with several people still unaccounted for.
The Malian army said it had launched a “targeted operation against armed groups” in the area, adding that around 10 militants had been killed.
The attacks come amid growing security instability in Mali, where armed groups linked to al-Qaeda have expanded operations despite ongoing military campaigns.
Tensions have intensified since reports emerged late last month of an attack near the capital, Bamako, targeting the residence of Defense Minister General Sadio Camara, with conflicting accounts over the extent of the assault and whether attackers briefly seized key government sites.
IZ/A
