At least 32 people were killed in an attack on a civilian convoy escorted by the Malian army and Russian Wagner mercenaries in northern Mali on Friday, February 8, 2025. The attack occurred near Kobe, about 30 kilometers from the city of Gao, a region frequently hit by violence. The Malian army confirmed the attack and said it was hunting down the perpetrators.
The convoy was carrying mainly foreign miners heading to a gold mine in the Gao region. The Malian army stated that three vehicles were hit, killing 25 civilians and injuring 13 others. A local politician, speaking anonymously, later confirmed that the death toll had risen to 32 civilians and military personnel.
Mali has been engulfed in a deep security crisis since 2012, fueled by movements affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group. The country has been ruled by a military junta since the coups of 2020 and 2021.