Mali’s military forces have pledged to pursue those behind a deadly ambush on a convoy transporting foreign civilians to a gold mine in the northern region of the country. The attack occurred on Friday as soldiers and Wagner Group mercenaries were escorting the convoy, which was primarily made up of foreign nationals, through the village of Kobe. This area has been marked by the presence of armed groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and Islamic State, contributing to a pattern of increased violence in recent months.
According to local officials, the ambush resulted in significant casualties, with a local politician estimating that 32 civilians and soldiers lost their lives in the attack. The Malian Armed Forces reported a lower total, confirming the deaths of 25 civilians and indicating that 13 others, mostly young foreign gold miners, sustained injuries during the incident. The military also recovered the bodies of 19 attackers from the site of the ambush.
The convoy was en route to Intahaka, which serves as a focal point for gold mining activity in the north, an industry that plays a critical role in Mali’s economy. Despite being one of Africa’s leading gold producers, the nation has faced a steep decline in production due to ongoing instability and violence. The unrest in Mali has been escalating since 2012 and includes a series of military coups, all while the country grapples with insurgencies linked to extremist groups and local criminal networks.
The conflict has not been isolated to Mali; it has spread throughout the central Sahel region, affecting neighboring countries like Burkina Faso and Niger, where military juntas have taken power. In the face of these challenges, military leaders in the Sahel have committed to reclaiming control over their natural resources, arguing that foreign entities have unjustly benefited from their country’s wealth.
Gold mining alone contributes approximately a quarter of Mali’s national budget, making the industry a pivotal focus amid the ongoing fight against terrorism and instability. The Malian army’s statement emphasized their resolve to track down the terrorists responsible for this latest attack, underlining the increasing dangers faced by civilians in a region plagued by conflict and insecurity.
