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Al-Qaeda affiliate claims Mali car bomb attack in Gao | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Al-Qaeda's North African affiliate says a group linked to it carried out the suicide attack that killed at least 50 people in northern Mali. | |
A vehicle packed with explosives detonated at a camp housing soldiers and members of rival armed groups in the region's main city, Gao. | A vehicle packed with explosives detonated at a camp housing soldiers and members of rival armed groups in the region's main city, Gao. |
Mali's northern desert region has been restive since it was captured by militant Islamists in late 2012. | Mali's northern desert region has been restive since it was captured by militant Islamists in late 2012. |
Despite French military intervention in 2013, the region remains tense. | |
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) said the suicide bombing was meant to punish rebel groups co-operating with France, according to a statement obtained by the SITE Intelligence Group. | |
AQIM said a group called al-Mourabitoun was responsible and named the bomber it said carried out the attack. Malian media had earlier suggested several bombers took part. | |
The victims were involved in conducting patrols in this highly volatile area under a deal backed by the UN in a bid to stop the violence there. | The victims were involved in conducting patrols in this highly volatile area under a deal backed by the UN in a bid to stop the violence there. |
The accord between the government and rebel groups was signed in June 2015. | |
Al-Mourabitoun also said it was behind the hostage-taking at the Radisson Blu hotel in the Malian capital, Bamako, in November 2015, and a deadly raid on the Splendid Hotel in the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, in January 2016. | |
It is not the first time the military in Mali has been targeted by a deadly attack. | It is not the first time the military in Mali has been targeted by a deadly attack. |
In July last year, about 17 soldiers were killed and 30 others wounded in an attack on a military base in the central town of Nampala. | In July last year, about 17 soldiers were killed and 30 others wounded in an attack on a military base in the central town of Nampala. |
National mourning | National mourning |
Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has declared three days of national mourning in a tweet following the latest attack. | Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has declared three days of national mourning in a tweet following the latest attack. |
The fight against extremist groups is one of the major challenges of Mr Keita's government. | The fight against extremist groups is one of the major challenges of Mr Keita's government. |
But a new report by Human Rights Watch says the Malian government is not doing enough to protect civilians from the militants. | But a new report by Human Rights Watch says the Malian government is not doing enough to protect civilians from the militants. |
Wednesday's attack shows that even soldiers aren't safe, says the BBC World Service Africa editor James Copnall. | Wednesday's attack shows that even soldiers aren't safe, says the BBC World Service Africa editor James Copnall. |
"If the security situation continues to deteriorate, then soon there won't be any peace to keep in Mali," UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous told the UN Security Council. |