In a statement released Tuesday, the General Staff of the Armed Forces (EMGA) announced that the positions of the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) in Niono, Molodo, Sandaré, Nioro du Sahel, Gogui, Kayes, and Diboli were simultaneously attacked. The General Staff indicated that the situation remains closely monitored. In Diboli, the attackers targeted security force facilities: police stations, customs offices, and the image and formalities office. According to video testimonies verified by APA, several buildings were riddled with bullets. "The office went up in smoke. They came this morning and shot everywhere," said a Senegalese national. Another Malian witness confirmed that all border services were hit.
This is the first time that a border post so close to Senegal—less than two kilometers from Kidira—has been the direct target of such an assault. Although bordering several unstable areas, Senegal has never experienced a jihadist attack on its territory. Between 2014 and 2015, however, the country experienced a wave of departures to the conflict zones of Nigeria and Libya, at a time when the Islamic State was uniting several African jihadist movements under its banner.
APA-Kédougou (Senegal)
