Mali: Gunmen kill soldier in Mopti region October 21

Event

On Sunday, October 21, three unidentified gunmen attacked the village of Boulékéssi (Mopti region), located near the border with Burkina Faso, 70 km (43 mi) southeast of Hombri. According to a military spokesperson, one Malian soldier was killed and two others wounded in the attack. Additional forces have been deployed to the area to secure the village. Nevertheless, further attacks are possible in Mopti in the coming days and weeks.

Context

Several armed groups operate in certain areas of central Mali as well as in the northern region. Most groups are affiliated with Al-Qa'ida - under the Jama'a Nusrat Ul-Islam Wa Al-Muslimin (JNIM) umbrella - or the Islamic State (IS). Tensions are further exacerbated by strong underlying ethnic divides.

Advice

The security environment in Mali remains complex. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel. Due to the underlying terrorist and kidnapping threats prevalent in the country, all those present in Mali are advised to remain discreet regarding personal details, particularly information concerning nationality, employment, family, etc. Individuals are also advised to avoid public events and places frequented by Westerners, to remain vigilant at all times (especially in local markets, now used by terrorists as recruitment grounds), and to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities.