On August 8, 2021, jihadist militants from Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) launched simultaneous attacks on four villages in central Mali, killing over fifty-one civilians.
| Karou and Ouatagouna massacres | |
|---|---|
| Part of Mali War | |
| Location | Karou, Ouattagouna, Daoutegeft, and Dirga, Mali |
| Date | August 8, 2021 |
| Deaths | 51+[1] |
| Perpetrator |  Islamic State in the Greater Sahara |
Attack edit
Around 6pm local time, over 80 ISGS militants stormed the four towns of Karou, Ouattagouna, Daouetegeft, and Dirga, all within a short distance of each other.[2][3] The militants attacked on motorbikes, "as most victims were in front of their houses; others going to the mosque" according to local official Oumar Cisse.[4] According to eyewitnesses, ISGS went from house to house, rounding up all of the men and children, only sparing some women.[3] Military officials stated that ISGS fighters massacred everyone, burning down homes and stealing cattle.[5][2] Many of the dead were women and children.[6]
Malian military officials stated the attack was prompted because locals in the town had shared the locations of ISGS to the Malian military following recent humanitarian aid deliveries.[6]
Aftermath edit
The provisional death toll, according to local officials, was 51 killed.[5] Twenty civilians were killed in Karou, fourteen in Ouattagouna, and an unknown amount in Daoutegeft and Dirga.[5] A representative of local Songhai human rights group Songhoy Chaawara Batoo claimed that the attack occurred within eighteen kilometers of a Malian military base.[7] Malian officials claimed that after the attacks, they established a heavy security presence in the area.[6] The UN also launched its own investigation into the massacre in late 2021.[3]
References edit
- ^ "At least 51 killed in Mali rebel attacks: Officials". Al Jazeera. 2021-08-09. Archived from the original on 2023-02-28.
- ^ a b "Mali : plus de 50 civils tués par des djihadistes présumés". LEFIGARO (in French). 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ a b c Maillard, Matteo. "Au Mali, autopsie d'un massacre ordinaire". Libération (in French). Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "Rebel gunmen kill at least 51 in Mali in apparent revenge attacks". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ a b c Akinwotu, Emmanuel (2021-08-09). "Mali conflict: at least 51 people killed in attack by suspected jihadists". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ a b c "Mali: une cinquantaine de civils tués par des jihadistes dans le nord du pays". RFI (in French). 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "More Than 50 Dead in Attacks on Mali Villages". VOA. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
External links edit
- Matteo Maillard, Au Mali, autopsie d'un massacre ordinaire Liberation, October 7, 2021