Dozens killed in fresh jihadist attacks in central Mali
Jihadist fighters have launched a fresh wave of attacks in central Mali, killing dozens of people, according to local and security sources.
One local official said the death toll from recent violence had risen to more than 70 in recent days.
The latest attacks were carried out on Friday and were claimed by the al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, known as JNIM.
The group had already killed at least 30 people in attacks on villages on Wednesday, the sources said.
A local youth leader said nearby army detachments had not responded despite multiple calls for help.
A security source described the situation in the region as worrying.
The attacks underline the worsening security situation in central Mali, where Islamist armed groups have intensified assaults on villages.
According to the security source, JNIM has been targeting villages that refused to sign local agreements.
The violence comes after JNIM and the Tuareg-dominated Azawad Liberation Front carried out an unprecedented assault against Mali's ruling junta last month.
