In a brutal assault on a wedding ceremony in central Mali, West Africa, at least 21 people were killed, leaving the community of Djiguibombo in mourning. The attack occurred on Monday evening, July 1, 2024, as villagers gathered to celebrate the union of a local couple.

The assailants, who arrived on motorcycles, surrounded the gathering and launched an onslaught that left devastation in its wake. “Most of the victims had their throats slit,” said Bakary Guindo, president of the local youth group. The attackers also looted homes, set fire to a health center, and stole livestock and supplies.

The village of Djiguibombo, located near the town of Bandiagara, has been plagued by violence linked to extremist groups. Although no group has claimed responsibility for this attack, the method and brutality bear the hallmarks of the al-Qaida-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) extremist group, which has frequently targeted the region.

Resident Hamidou Saye described the attackers’ strategy: “They surrounded the large number of attendees, leaving no escape for those celebrating the wedding.” The community has been left reeling from this atrocity, with many victims being young people.

The incident is part of a larger pattern of violence that has gripped Mali since 2012. Extremist groups and ethnic militias have terrorized central and northern regions, targeting civilians in their brutal campaigns. The expulsion of French troops and the end of the UN peacekeeping mission have further destabilized the region, allowing extremist factions to regain strength.

Mali’s military rulers, who seized power nearly four years ago, have struggled to contain the escalating violence. The collapse of a 2015 peace deal with ethnic Tuareg rebels has only deepened the security crisis. The junta’s alliance with the Russian Wagner Group has not succeeded in improving the situation, and reports of human rights abuses by both government forces and allied militias continue to surface.

Ginna Dogon, an organization representing the Dogon ethnic group, lamented the ongoing violence. “This is the latest tragedy in a dark series that the Dogon country has been going through for several years, with daily attacks on villages, farmers in the fields, killings, and kidnappings,” the group said in a statement.

The attack on the wedding in Djiguibombo highlights the dire security situation in Mali. Despite promises from the military government to restore order, the reality remains grim. Communities across central and northern Mali continue to live in fear, vulnerable to sudden and violent attacks.