Mali: Islamic State fighters kill at least 48 civilians in Menaka region
Villages were burned and livestock stolen in at least five localities in eastern Mali, in what local sources call retaliation for earlier abuses by pro-government forces. Some tolls exceed 70.
At a glance
- Fighters from Islamic State Sahel Province killed at least 48 civilians in at least five localities in Mali's eastern Menaka region over the weekend, according to local and security sources.
- Provisional tolls range from 48 to more than 70; some victims were shot and others died in fires as homes were burned and livestock stolen.
- Sources say the attacks were retaliation for abuses the week before by a pro-government militia and Russia's Africa Corps, which killed about a dozen people.
- Hundreds of civilians fled to Menaka town; the group has not claimed responsibility, and Mali's army did not comment.
At least 48 civilians have been killed in attacks by Islamic State fighters in eastern Mali, local and security sources said, one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in the region this year.
What happened
| Where | At least five localities in the Menaka region, eastern Mali |
| When | Over the weekend of October 17–18, with raids continuing on Sunday |
| Attackers | Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP), according to sources; no claim of responsibility |
| Killed | At least 48 civilians; some provisional tolls exceed 70 |
| Damage | Homes set on fire, livestock stolen |
| Displaced | Hundreds fled to Menaka town |
Some victims were shot; others died when their homes were burned. The toll was still being counted on Tuesday.
Revenge for earlier abuses
Sources said the attacks were retaliation for abuses a week earlier by a pro-government militia, the MSA, and Africa Corps, the Russian paramilitary force that backs Mali's military government. A municipal official in Menaka said those forces "committed abuses against civilians suspected of being informants for the Islamic State", adding: "They killed about a dozen people, set fire to houses, and stole other property."
Mali's army and Russia's embassy in Bamako did not respond to requests for comment. Mali has previously denied killing civilians during counter-insurgency operations.
A war on many fronts
- ISSP vs JNIM: the Islamic State group is fighting the al-Qaeda-linked JNIM as well as the army. The two jihadist groups have clashed hundreds of times since 2019, causing more than 2,000 deaths, and ISSP recently claimed to have killed 400 JNIM fighters in Burkina Faso.
- Attacks on the state: in April, JNIM and the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front carried out nationwide attacks that killed Mali's defence minister and struck Bamako's main airport.
- Since 2012: Mali has fought insurgents since Tuareg separatists and al-Qaeda-linked militants seized the north, prompting a French intervention. After coups in 2020 and 2021, the junta expelled French troops and turned to Russia.
Why it matters
The Sahel has become one of the world's deadliest regions for jihadist violence. Civilians are caught between armed groups and security forces, and revenge attacks deepen the cycle of killing. The violence drives displacement across West Africa and has spillover risks for coastal states.
Mali in numbers
| Insurgency since | 2012 |
| Military coups | 2020 and 2021 |
| Main jihadist groups | JNIM (al-Qaeda-linked), Islamic State Sahel Province |
| Foreign partner | Russia's Africa Corps (formerly Wagner) |
| French troops | Withdrawn in 2022 |
What happens next
Local authorities are still counting the dead and assisting those who fled to Menaka town. Further clashes between ISSP, JNIM and government forces are likely, and rights groups are calling for investigations into abuses by all sides.
Questions people are asking
What happened in Menaka, Mali?
Over the weekend of October 17–18, 2026, fighters from Islamic State Sahel Province attacked at least five localities in Mali's Menaka region, killing at least 48 civilians, burning homes and stealing livestock.
Who controls Mali?
A military government has ruled Mali since coups in 2020 and 2021. It expelled French forces and now works with Russia's Africa Corps against jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Why is the Sahel so violent?
Groups linked to al-Qaeda (JNIM) and the Islamic State are fighting governments and each other across Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, while army and militia abuses against civilians fuel recruitment and revenge attacks.
