Markacoungo attack
On January 2, 2023, militants from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin attacked the villages of Markacoungo and Kassela, on the Bamako-Ségou highway, killing five civilians. The attack was the first by JNIM in the Bamako area in months. PreludeJama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin is an al-Qaeda-affiliated coalition of five jihadist groups that had rebelled against the Malian government in 2012, and unified in 2017.[1] Normally, the group operates in northern and eastern Mali's Tombouctou Region, Mopti Region, and Gao Region, rarely ever extending southwards towards the Malian capital of Bamako.[2] The last major attack near Bamako occurred at a police checkpoint in Zantiguila, a village in Ségou Region, in July 2022.[3] AttackJihadists on motorcycles drove up to the town of Kassela around 9pm local time on January 2, and first attacked a toll booth.[4] Markacoungo was attacked shortly afterward by unidentified gunmen, and the attackers shot at a civil defense post manned by civilians. The Malian Ministry of Security and Civil Defense stated two firefighters and three civilians were killed.[5][6] The ministry later stated it was launching reprisal operations to find the gunmen.[7] On January 5, JNIM claimed responsibility for the attacks.[6] References
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