The assaults were “claimed” by a group affiliated to Al-Qaeda.
Attacks on an army base and a passenger boat on the Niger River in northern Mali yesterday by suspected jihadists have killed 64 people, according to a Malian official. The two separate attacks targeted the Timbuktu boat on the Niger river and an army position at Bamba, in the northern Gao region with “a provisional toll of 49 civilians and 15 soldiers killed”, according to a government statement. It did not specify how many died in each assault, but the assaults were “claimed” by a group affiliated to Al-Qaeda. Earlier, the Malian army said on social media that the boat was attacked around 11am by “armed terrorist groups”. The vessel, plying an established route between cities along the river, was targeted by “at least three rockets” which aimed at its engines, the operator Comanav said separately. The vessel was immobilised on the river and the army are evacuating passengers, a Comanav official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
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Looks like the Wagner Group is doing about as well as the French did before they were thrown out.
