BAMAKO, Mali
An attack by suspected Islamic extremists on a camp outside Gao sheltering individuals who had earlier fled violence in northern Mali has left 11 people dead, officials said Thursday.
The assailants also destroyed
the camp’s food stocks and stole all the livestock, former Gao Mayor Sadou
Diallo said.
The U.N. confirmed Monday’s
attack in a statement, although authorities in the Gao region have not yet
reported it.
“These (internally displaced
people) fleeing insecurity are doubly affected by the violence of this attack,
further exacerbating their vulnerability,” said U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator
Alain Noudehou.
There was no immediate claim
of responsibility but the attack bears the hallmarks of militants linked to the
Islamic State in the Greater Sahara group, which targets civilians in the Gao
and Menaka region.
The attack near Gao comes amid
growing fears about extremist violence in Mali following the departure of
French forces earlier this year after nine years of helping fight militants in
the West African country. France’s departure came amid deteriorating relations
with Col. Assimi Goita, who seized power in Mali two years ago.
Goita has become increasingly
isolated from Mali’s one-time international partners. The U.K. recently announced
it would be withdrawing its 300 peacekeepers from Mali, saying the country’s
growing reliance on Russian mercenaries is undermining stability.
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