More than 50 people were killed in an ambush near the city of Gao in northeastern Mali on Friday, as armed attackers targeted a convoy and its military escort.
The attack took place near the village of Kobi, approximately 30 kilometers from Gao, in a region where extremist groups linked to ISIS and al-Qaeda have been active for over a decade.
These groups have contributed to widespread instability in Mali and its neighboring countries, Burkina Faso and Niger.
According to local officials, civilians attempted to flee as gunmen opened fire on the convoy. Dozens of bodies were later recovered at a hospital in Gao, with at least 56 confirmed dead.
The total number of military casualties remains unknown. Witnesses reported that around 50 people lost their lives and several vehicles were set on fire.
Deadly attacks have become increasingly frequent in the region, with the Malian army now conducting near-daily security patrols.
The surge in violence follows years of conflict, which began in 2012 with a Tuareg separatist uprising. Since then, militant groups have expanded their operations across the central Sahel region, further destabilizing the area.
According to the International Organization for Migration, these attacks have killed thousands and fueled a worsening humanitarian crisis. As of January, more than 3.2 million people have been displaced due to the ongoing violence.
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