Mali: 9 soldiers and 15 gunmen killed in attack on military convoy

SANAA, Oct. 07 (YPA) – Mali’s military said on Wednesday that nine soldiers were killed as well as 15 militants in an attack on a military convoy in the center of the country, at a time  security challenges continue for Sahel countries against armed groups.

The army confirmed that 11 other grandparents were injured, while three vehicles were destroyed after an improvised  explosive device was detonated, followed by heavy gunfire targeting a military convoy near the village of Bodio in the Mopti region,  the central region of Mali

Fifteen gunmen were killed and 20 of their vehicles seized, the statement said.

Northern Burkina Faso, particularly the border area near Niger and Mali, is the most affected by armed attacks by al-Qaida militants.

Armed violence forced the authorities to evacuate some northern villages bordering Niger and to assemble people in larger villages to secure them from any attack.

Pro-ISIS and al-Qaeda armed groups are moving in the border area between Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

E.M