The center of the country has once again become the scene of carnage. Coordinated jihadist attacks, which occurred between last Wednesday and Friday, claimed the lives of dozens of civilians. While the exact count remains difficult to establish, the figures point to a tragedy of unprecedented scale.

A tragic human toll

Local accounts agree on the seriousness of the situation, although the figures still differ:

1. Local sources: An official reports a total of 80 deaths .
2. Youth representatives: They mention at least 50 deaths and many missing persons.
3. Local officials: Confirm that the return of armed groups on Friday to the villages of Kouroude and Dougara has brought the overall death toll to over 70 .

These attacks follow a first offensive on Wednesday, claimed by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims ( JNIM ), which had already claimed around thirty victims.

Security failure and reprisals

Frustration is growing among the civilian population. A youth leader criticized the inaction of the armed forces based in Bankass and Diallassagou, stating that their calls for help have gone unanswered.

According to security sources, this surge in violence is not accidental: JNIM is reportedly targeting villages that have refused to sign local agreements with the insurgents. The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) has strongly condemned these acts, describing them as serious violations of international humanitarian law.

The junta under pressure: between military setbacks and blockade

The government in Bamako is going through a period of major turbulence:

1. Territorial losses: The military has lost control of several strategic sectors in the North, including the city of Kidal .
2. Weakening of command: Defense Minister Sadio Camara , a key figure in the junta, was killed in recent clashes.
3. Economic strangulation: Since the end of April, a road blockade imposed by jihadists has paralyzed the routes leading to the capital. Numerous freight trucks have been set on fire.

Political context: While arrests of opponents and soldiers are increasing in areas under government control, a rally in support of the junta brought together around a thousand people in Bamako this Saturday, under the banner of "patriotic mobilization".