By RFIPubliée on 24-03-2019Modified on 24-03-2019 at 14:46

The latest assessment of Saturday's massacre of Fulani civilians in central Mali indicates at least 135 dead and more than 50 wounded. The attackers were dressed in traditional "dozo" hunters' clothing. In the aftermath of the attack, it is consternation, while the government has not yet spoken publicly and the relief still cares for the wounded.

According to witnesses, this is desolation in the ravaged village of Ogossagou. The inhabitants dig this Sunday a mass grave to bury some forty civilians, who could not be buried the day before, the day of the tragedy. " We do not have the morale, the people are all traumatized, " testifies by phone an elected. Another describes the remains of burned huts, burned animals, personal belongings reduced to ashes, silent testimonies of horror.

A government delegation - including three ministers - is on site. Dozens of soldiers were also sent to the villages to secure the premises and reassure the inhabitants. Finally, the government has pledged to arrest the perpetrators of these massacres and to bring justice. High-ranking army officers should also be fired for failing to protect themselves, according to our information. But the fear remains very present.

Relief was organized part of the evening on Saturday, especially to evacuate the wounded. They were taken to the locality of Bankass for some, to Mopti for others.

On social networks or in the streets, Malians say their shock and outrage in the aftermath of the massacre. A shock shared by the representative of the peacekeeping mission Mahamat Saleh Annadif who, in front of the press Saturday and surrounded by a delegation of the Security Council of the UN, urged the state to stop the spiral of the violence.

Faced with this unspeakable tragedy, I first call for the cessation of the spiral of violence. As part of our protection of civilians mandate, a rapid response force from Minusma was immediately deployed to the incident site. Similarly, measures to evacuate the wounded towards Sévaré have been taken.

UN Security Council delegation reacts to carnage in central Mali

24-03-2019 - By Coralie Pierret

For its part, the government remained rather discreet. There has been no public speaking for the moment. In a statement on Saturday night, the authorities said an investigation had been opened.

► Mali, more than 100 dead in a massacre in the village of Ogossagou

Like other elected officials, Cheick Harouna Sankaré, mayor of Ouenkoro, displays his concern. This former presidential candidate explains that in the city of Bankass today, Fulani civilians are asking for protection, even asking to go further south.

The human rights associations and the Fulani community association Tabital Pulaaku point to the absence of the state in this area. The Ogossagou massacre is not an isolated case. According to Tabital Pulaaku, in the Bankass circle, intercommunal clashes have killed at least 50 people since January 2019.

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