In the central region of Mali, the village of Dembo has faced a devastating attack that resulted in a high civilian death toll. Reports indicate that armed men, allegedly linked to the Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), a Yoda-like reference to an Al Qaeda affiliate operating in the country, carried out the assault on the community. The majority of those killed were local villagers working in surrounding fields, along with four Dozo hunters who traditionally defend communities against such incursions.
There has been no public claim of responsibility from JNIM, and the Malian military has yet to issue a formal statement. Nonetheless, local officials, community representatives, and Dozo hunters have attributed the attack to jihadist militants, following late Sunday afternoon events in the area.
Pushed by the violence, nearby Sogou Dorkoum also endured looting, though without reported fatalities. The broader Sahel region has seen a wave of similar assaults as armed groups attempt to project authority. These episodes have produced a climate of fear among residents, many of whom have refused to go to the fields for fear of not returning home alive.
Observers note that the JNIM frequently targets this region, with spikes in violence during the rainy season that runs from June through September. Attacks often target communities that decline to accept demands and that host Dozo hunter groups, who sometimes act as local defense units.
Malí and other Sahel nations have witnessed a surge in violence, including jihadist actions by branches of Al Qaeda and the Islamic State as well as intercommunal clashes. Allegations of abuse by the national army and mercenaries deployed to assist Bamako have added to the sense of insecurity. In response, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger formed the Alliance of Sahel States to bolster counterterrorism cooperation outside the Economic Community of West African States. This cooperation emerged after a series of coups between 2020 and 2023 that toppled elected presidents and left military authorities in control.