US condemns militant attack in Mali that killed 31

By Jacob Kubeka –

United State on Sunday strongly condemns a militant attack on a bus in central Mali that killed at least 31 people and injured 17, the State Department said on Sunday.

Unidentified gunmen opened fire on the bus as it moved from Songho hamlet to a market in Bandiagara, some 6 miles (10 kilometers) away, on Friday.

The settlements are located in the Mopti region of Mali, which is a hotbed of insurgents affiliated to al Qaeda and Islamic State.

In a written statement, State Department spokesman Ned Price stated, “The United States strongly condemns the attack on civilians on Saturday near Bandiagara, Mali, which resulted in 31 deaths and 17 injuries.”

“We express our heartfelt condolences to the Malian people and will continue to work with them to achieve a secure, prosperous, and democratic future,” Price added.

Thousands of people have been killed in jihadist attacks across Africa’s Sahel area.

Jihadist attacks have surged across Africa’s Sahel region, killing thousands and displacing millions across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

(Reuters)