Mali: Multiple fatalities as ambulance hits roadside IED near Boura (Sikasso Region) on September 11

Event

At least six people were killed on the morning of Friday, September 11, when an ambulance was hit by a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) blast in the Boura area of the Sikasso region. The vehicle is reported to have been transporting patients from Yorosso and Boura when it struck the IED, killing the six nurses and patients and wounding the driver.

The attack came less than 24 hours after two local Water and Forests Department workers were abducted and murdered by suspected militants on the same stretch of road, around 10km west of Boura.

Further roadside IEDs and ambushes, as well as security operations, are likely in the area in the medium term.

Context

Due to the presence of various armed groups, Mali's northern and central regions remain unstable despite the presence of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), one of the largest UN peacekeeping missions in the world. Areas along the border with Burkina Faso have become particularly unstable in recent months, as militant groups increasingly operate across the frontier.

Advice

The security environment in Mali remains complex, particularly in the north and central regions, and those in the country should heed any directives issued by local authorities. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.