Armed fighters launched a coordinated assault on multiple villages in central Mali late Saturday evening, targeting communities in the Dimbal and Bankass areas near Bandiagara.

Fighters from the Jnim group struck Logo, Soulakanda and Dimbal villages in Dimbal municipality, as well as Ogossagou and Kouroundé in Bankass municipality between 17:00 and 18:00 local time. The assaults pitted the militants against traditional Dozo hunters, who often fill security gaps where state forces are absent.

Local officials, civil society representatives and Dozo leaders report at least two dozen fatalities, including both hunters and civilians. One Dozo leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, criticized the Malian military for failing to respond to the attacks, noting no official statements were released afterward. Military authorities did not respond to requests for comment.

Residents flee amid rising insecurity

Panicked residents fled toward nearby towns such as Bankass, straining already stretched humanitarian resources. The exodus follows a series of deadly raids in the region earlier this month that left more than fifty people dead.

A Jnim spokesman had previously warned that villages hosting Dozo bases and refusing local agreements with the group would be targeted, escalating tensions in a volatile region.