Five villages in the Bandiagara Region were attacked on Thursday afternoon in one of the latest violent incidents shaking central Mali. The assaults were later claimed by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, commonly known as JNIM, an extremist group affiliated

 with Al-Qaeda.

Although the armed group did not release an official death toll, sources contacted by international media reported that around twenty people were killed during the attacks. Several others were reportedly injured, while many residents fled their homes in panic to escape the violence.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos as armed men entered villages, causing widespread fear among civilians. Some homes and local infrastructures were reportedly damaged during the assaults, further worsening humanitarian conditions in the area.

The attacks once again highlight the deteriorating security situation in central Mali, where extremist organizations continue expanding their influence despite years of military operations conducted by Malian forces and international partners.

The Bandiagara region has become one of the areas most affected by insecurity in recent years. Armed groups frequently target villages, local authorities, and civilians, accusing communities of cooperating with rival groups or government forces.

As violence increases, many families are abandoning their villages and seeking refuge in safer areas. Humanitarian organizations warn that repeated attacks are worsening displacement, food insecurity, and poverty across large parts of the Sahel region.

The crisis in Mali has become increasingly complex over the past decade, involving jihadist insurgencies, intercommunal tensions, political instability, and military transitions. Despite various security operations, extremist groups remain active in several regions of the country.

International observers fear that continued instability in Mali could further destabilize neighboring countries in the Sahel, where armed groups already operate across porous borders.

Local authorities and security forces have not yet released a detailed official report regarding the latest attacks, while residents continue searching for missing relatives and assessing the damage left behind by the violence.