Jihadist forces launched coordinated strikes against multiple villages in central Mali late Saturday, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming the lives of at least two dozen people.

Targets included Logo, Soulakanda, and Dimbal within Dimbal commune, as well as Ogossagou and Kouroundé in Bankass commune. The assault pitted militants from the Jnim group against traditional hunters known as dozos, who frequently fill security gaps where state presence is weak.

Local officials, civil society representatives, and dozo leaders reported the casualty toll, noting that both hunters and civilians were among the dead. One dozo leader expressed frustration over the army’s failure to respond during the assaults, with no official statement issued afterward. Military authorities remained unresponsive when contacted for comment.

Communities brace for further violence

Fearing additional attacks, residents have begun fleeing toward nearby towns such as Bankass, where displacement camps are already overwhelmed. Aid workers are raising concerns about the capacity to support the new influx of displaced families. Earlier this month, similar violence in the same region resulted in more than fifty fatalities.

Tensions remain high following a recent warning from a Jnim spokesperson, who vowed to target settlements hosting dozo bases that refuse to comply with local agreements imposed by the group.