In the wake of a deadly assault that left villages in ruins, a high-level government delegation, led by Mali’s Minister of State for Reconciliation, Peace and National Cohesion, General Ismaël Wagué, arrived in Bandiagara on Monday, May 11, 2026. The visit followed a brutal terrorist strike on May 6 against the communities of Kori-Kori and Gomossogou in the Bankass district.
The delegation paid official condolences to affected families during a ceremony at the regional governor’s office. As part of the government’s response, relief supplies were distributed: 25 metric tons of millet, 25 metric tons of rice, and a financial aid package totaling 20 million West African CFA francs to support survivors.
The Malian authorities have attributed the attack to fighters from the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) group. While no official death toll has been released, local sources—including the Dana Ambassagou dozos militia—report over 60 fatalities, numerous injuries, and severe material damage.
Youssouf Toloba, leader of the dozos, stated that the villages were targeted after refusing to sign so-called “peace agreements” with armed extremist factions. In a parallel statement, Noël Tessougué, deputy chief of the dozos, warned that communities that have struck deals with JNIM will no longer receive protection from the militia, signaling rising tensions between self-defense groups and insurgent factions.
During his address, Minister Wagué reaffirmed the transitional government’s commitment to halting violence against civilians across the nation. He closed with a call for unity, solidarity, and collective resilience to confront the ongoing security challenges gripping Mali.