
Armed group mounts double attack on artisanal mining site in Mali, leaving 3 dead and abducting 2
BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — An armed group attacked an artisanal gold mining site in southern Mali on Monday morning, a local elected official announced, the first such attack since a military government seized power in 2020.
'Early on Monday morning, terrorists carried out two attacks in the Narena commune. First, they attacked a shop belonging to Chinese nationals. They kidnapped two Chinese nationals and burned their heavy machinery used in gold mining,' Mamadou Kanté, deputy mayor of Narena, told The Associated Press.
He said the fighters then attacked an artisanal gold-panning site nearby. Three people died: one Malian and two others from Ghana.
The attack has not been claimed, but it bears the hallmark of the JNIM group, which is linked to al-Qaida and is present in the commune of Narena, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) south-west of the capital, Bamako.
Mali is one of Africa's largest gold producers. In recent years, there have been concerns that profits from unregulated mining could benefit extremists active in the country.
'Gold is by far Mali's most important export, comprising more than 80% of total exports in 2021,' according to the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. It says more than 2 million people, or more than 10% of Mali's population, depend on the mining sector for income.
Artisanal gold mining is estimated to produce around 30 tons of gold a year and represents 6% of Mali's annual gold production.
Mali has faced attacks from armed groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group in the greater Sahara for over 10 years.
In 2020, a group of military officers staged a coup during a wave of protests against Mali's democratically elected president, promising to restore security. Mali's military rulers then cut ties with traditional partners, notably France and the European Union, who had troops in the country as part of the fight against extremists.
Mali's military rulers then forged new links with Russia. However, according to analysts, attacks by armed groups have since increased.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Washington Post
4 hours ago
- Washington Post
Mali's government adopts bill granting junta leader 5 more years in power
BAMAKO, Mali — Mali's Council of Ministers on Wednesday adopted a controversial bill granting the head of the military junta an additional five years in power. Gen. Assimi Goita has led the West African nation since orchestrating two coups in 2020 and 2021. The move follows the military regime's dissolution of political parties in May. According to the government's cabinet statement, the bill will lead to the 'revision of the Transition Charter, granting the Head of State a five-year renewable mandate starting in 2025.' It implements the recommendations of the national dialogue consultations organized by the military regime in April, which the political parties boycotted. The bill now awaits ratification by the National Transitional Council, the legislative body overseeing the transition. Earlier in May, Gen. Goita signed a decree dissolving political parties, a decision made against a backdrop of burgeoning opposition. It coincided with a surge in kidnappings of pro-democracy activists in the capital, Bamako, and just days after a demonstration by several hundred activists. Mali, a landlocked nation in the semiarid region of Sahel, has been embroiled in political instability that swept across West and Central Africa over the last decade. The nation has seen two military coups since 2020 as an insurgency by jihadi groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group worsened. The junta had promised a return to civilian rule by March 2024, but later postponed elections. No date has been set yet for the presidential election. ____ Follow AP's Africa coverage at:


Associated Press
4 hours ago
- Associated Press
Mali's government adopts bill granting junta leader 5 more years in power
BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Mali's Council of Ministers on Wednesday adopted a controversial bill granting the head of the military junta an additional five years in power. Gen. Assimi Goita has led the West African nation since orchestrating two coups in 2020 and 2021. The move follows the military regime's dissolution of political parties in May. According to the government's cabinet statement, the bill will lead to the 'revision of the Transition Charter, granting the Head of State a five-year renewable mandate starting in 2025.' It implements the recommendations of the national dialogue consultations organized by the military regime in April, which the political parties boycotted. The bill now awaits ratification by the National Transitional Council, the legislative body overseeing the transition. Earlier in May, Gen. Goita signed a decree dissolving political parties, a decision made against a backdrop of burgeoning opposition. It coincided with a surge in kidnappings of pro-democracy activists in the capital, Bamako, and just days after a demonstration by several hundred activists. Mali, a landlocked nation in the semiarid region of Sahel, has been embroiled in political instability that swept across West and Central Africa over the last decade. The nation has seen two military coups since 2020 as an insurgency by jihadi groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group worsened. The junta had promised a return to civilian rule by March 2024, but later postponed elections. No date has been set yet for the presidential election. ____ Follow AP's Africa coverage at:


News24
9 hours ago
- News24
First group of South African soldiers deployed to DRC set to return home
The troops, who will be returning to Air Force Base Bloemspruit in Bloemfontein, will be welcomed by Minister of Defence Angie Motshekga. Their deployment was part of the SAMIDRC's efforts to restore stability in eastern DRC, where armed groups, including M23 rebels, have engaged in violent conflict. The mission was marred by tragedy as 14 soldiers lost their lives in a fight with the M23 rebels; their remains were repatriated for burial in February. The first group of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers who were deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is expected to arrive back on home soil this week. The SANDF announced on Wednesday that its troops are set to arrive at Air Force Base Bloemspruit in Bloemfontein around midday on Friday. 'The troops will be welcomed by the minister of defence and military veterans, accompanied by members of the Military Command Council,' the SANDF said in a statement. Their homecoming marks the end of their participation in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), which aimed to help restore peace in the conflict-ridden eastern region of the country. In May, South Africa announced the withdrawal of its troops months after the country lost 14 soldiers in a fight with the M23 rebels. The bodies of the 14 soldiers were allowed out of the war-torn area in February. The first group of soldiers was safely withdrawn and transported to an assembly point in Tanzania in April, where they waited the arrival of the remaining troops.