At least nine people were killed and several properties destroyed in a terrorist attack targeting Segue and Sonfounou villages in Mali’s Mopti region on Sunday, local reports and civil society groups confirmed.
The diocese of Mopti initially reported seven deaths, including a relative of a local cleric and six other men, in the village of Segue. A civil society group later revealed that the attack extended to Sonfounou, increasing the death toll to nine. The violence also saw the destruction of a clinic, pharmacy, and ambulance, with motorbikes and private vehicles looted or set ablaze.
“The toll of this deadly attack has risen to nine deaths, seven in Segue and two in Sonfounou,” stated the Patriotic Movement for the Unity and Safeguarding of the Bankass Cercle, which also condemned the “shocking” assault.
Mali has been grappling with a persistent crisis since 2012, driven by Al-Qaeda and Islamic State-linked factions. These groups continue to wreak havoc, particularly in central and northern regions, where separatist insurgencies and terrorism have displaced communities and crippled local governance.
This latest attack underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by the West African nation as it battles a complex combination of political instability, economic struggles, and escalating violence.
Efforts to confirm the casualty figures and extent of the destruction through official government sources or independent verification have so far been unsuccessful.
