Loulouni: Hundreds of residents fled the Loulouni town, Sikasso region, southern Mali on Friday evening following a drone attack and clashes among local armed groups. The drone attack left at least seven deaths and forced residents to flee toward safer areas.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the attack bears the hallmarks of 'Jama'at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin' (the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims or JNIM) - an affiliate of the al-Qaeda organization. This escalation comes as the armed group continued to impose a siege on the capital, Bamako, for nearly two months.
Meanwhile, Mali has begun trials for a number of officers and soldiers who were arrested in recent weeks on charges related to attempts to destabilize the country. The ongoing conflict and trials have created a tense atmosphere in the nation, adding to the urgency for residents seeking safety.