Many civilians have fled Farabougou in central Mali after a terrorist attack on a military camp earlier this week, sources said. Soldiers evacuated the town’s military installation on Tuesday, leaving the town under the control of armed militants, according to military officials.
For over a decade, Mali has faced waves of violence from Al-Qaeda, Islamic State affiliates, separatist groups, and armed criminal gangs. No immediate information was available on casualties from the Farabougou attack, leaving families and officials anxious and uncertain about the toll.
“Civilians are fleeing the town and surrounding villages,” a local official told AFP, requesting anonymity due to the ongoing security threat. “Several hundred people continue to flee. The militants now control the town and even held Friday prayers in Farabougou,” they added.
A military source confirmed the army’s absence in Farabougou on Saturday, framing it as a strategic withdrawal with plans to return. The town reportedly emptied out after the attack, highlighting the severe disruption caused to daily life and community stability.
The Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, linked to Al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for attacks in Farabougou and nearby Kassela. Since taking power, Mali’s military government has distanced itself from France, instead forging closer ties with Russia to combat terrorist threats.
Mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner group and its successor, Africa Corps, are now assisting the Malian army in fighting insurgents and other internal adversaries. The assault underscores Mali’s ongoing struggle with extremism and the fragile security landscape facing civilians in central regions.