At least eight fatalities and 42 injuries resulted from an explosive device detonating as a civilian bus passed on the road connecting Bamako to Kayes, situated in western Mali. The incident occurred on Monday along a critical transportation artery that routinely experiences armed violence. The passenger vehicle struck a mine while traversing this strategic link between Mali’s capital and its western regions.

Mamadou Kassambara, communication officer for the national drivers’ union, verified the casualty count on Tuesday, clarifying that the deceased and injured were civilian passengers aboard the bus. Africa Corps, a Russian paramilitary unit operating in Mali, published a differing account on social media, reporting five deaths and over a dozen wounded. This group attributed responsibility for the assault to the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), an organization affiliated with Al-Qaïda.

This specific area of Malian territory remains a frequent target for armed assaults and improvised explosive devices. Just last April, the GSIM executed several coordinated operations alongside a predominantly Tuareg rebel movement.