By RFIPosted on 16-01-2020Modified on 16-01-2020 at 22:23

At least 15 civilians were killed overnight Wednesday to Thursday in a Fulani village in central Mali, according to concordant sources.

" Fifteen Fulani civilians were killed by armed men in Sinda, a village 12 km from Douentza, " a Malian security source told AFP without identifying the attackers.

" At least 15 Fulani civilians have been killed. Some were slaughtered in their sleep, others after being arrested by presumed traditional hunters commonly called "dozos", or in any case they were dressed like them, "said an elected official from Douentza who requested anonymity for security reasons.

The victims were buried Thursday by residents of the village, " fear in their stomachs, " said a teacher from Sinda contacted by AFP.

Since the appearance in 2015 in central Mali of the group of radical preacher Amadou Koufa , recruiting primarily among the Peuls, traditionally breeders, clashes have multiplied between this community and the Bambara and Dogon ethnic groups, practicing mainly agriculture, who have created their "self-defense groups" by relying on the traditional dozo hunter groups.

The violence that has torn this region for five years culminated in the massacre on March 23, 2019, attributed to Dogon hunters, of some 160 Fulani in the village of Ogossagou , near the border with Burkina Faso. Last June, some 35 Dogons were killed in Sobane Da and around 40 in the villages of Gangafani and Yoro, to name only the most deadly attacks.

The association of Dogon hunters Dan Nan Ambassagou , officially dissolved after the Ogossagou massacre, remains one of the best organized and is regularly accused by Fulani associations of being responsible for these attacks, which it denies.

A lull had been registered since the signing in August of "cessation of hostilities" agreements by Peul and Dogon armed groups in the center of the country, on the sidelines of a visit by Prime Minister, Boubou Cisse.

(with AFP)

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