At Least 70 Killed in New Jihadist Attacks in Central Mali

At Least 70 Killed in New Jihadist Attacks in Central Mali
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A fresh wave of violent attacks by jihadist fighters in central Mali has killed at least 70 people, local and security sources told AFP and other media outlets.

The attacks, which occurred over recent days and escalated on Friday, were claimed by the Al‑Qaeda‑linked group Jama’at Nusrat al‑Islam wal‑Muslimin (JNIM), according to local officials.

The latest assaults followed earlier violence in the same region that killed at least 30 people, and brought the death toll from recent clashes above 70. Some local sources have suggested the toll could be as high as 80, though the exact figure remains difficult to confirm.

Mali has been grappling with a deepening security crisis after a series of coordinated offensives by jihadist and rebel groups, including large‑scale attacks in late April that marked one of the most significant escalations in the long‑running conflict.