Mali: Militants attack military outpost in Mopti Region April 6

Event

Unidentified militants killed at least one Malian soldier and injured four others in an ambush on a military outpost in Konna, Mopti Region April 6. According to security forces, the initial attack occurred at around 03:00 resulting in heavy fighting with Malian soldiers that killed at least 12 militants. Security forces recovered several weapons, including explosive devices, in the aftermath of the attack. There have been no claims of responsibility for the attack.

Context

The assaults underscore the pervasive insecurity in central and northern Mali. Islamist militants or affiliated groups waging an insurgency in restive regions of the country almost certainly perpetrated the attacks. Hundreds of UN and other foreign security personnel have been killed in Mali since 2013. Despite continued security operations in affected areas, armed groups in these regions continue to demonstrate an increased capability to strike civilian and military targets, as well as peacekeeping forces. The security situation in the Mopti Region is further undermined by local rivalries and sporadic communal violence between Dogon and Fulani communities, as well as issues such as lawlessness and banditry.