**Deadly attack during a wedding ceremony in Mali: When barbarism strikes innocence**
Residents of Djiguibombo, a peaceful village in the Bandiagara region of Mali, were victims of a shocking and brutal attack during a wedding ceremony. An unidentified armed group broke into the celebration, sowing terror among the festivities and leaving behind a tragic toll of 21 dead, according to residents’ testimonies.
The attack, which occurred Monday evening, plunged the community into fear. The attackers, who arrived on motorbikes, surrounded the party participants, while some suffered cuts to the throat, demonstrating the extreme violence of the attack. Although no group has claimed responsibility for this barbaric act, it is part of a series of attacks carried out by the extremist group linked to Al-Qaeda, JNIM, which regularly operates in the region.
Since 2012, residents of central and northern Mali have lived in fear of terrorist attacks. Despite the intervention of the armed forces to dislodge extremist rebels from northern towns in 2013, the latter gradually regrouped their forces to carry out violent attacks against isolated villages and security forces. The situation became more complex with the failure of the 2015 peace agreement with the Tuareg rebels, plunging the country into a deep security crisis.
Four years after coming to power, Malian military leaders are struggling to contain the rise in violence. The departure of foreign peacekeepers left a security vacuum that extremists quickly filled. Despite the efforts made, the situation on the ground remains unstable and the population continues to suffer the dramatic consequences of insecurity.
This barbaric attack during a wedding ceremony reminds us of the precarious situation in Mali and the need for urgent action to protect civilian populations. Faced with the terrorist threat, it is imperative that national and international authorities join forces to guarantee security and stability in the region. Hope for a peaceful future for the people of Mali rests on our ability to act quickly and effectively against the extremism and violence that threaten society.