Mali jihadist group Jnim kills ~20 in attacks on five villages near Bandiagara

On May 21, 2026, five villages in the Bandiagara region of central Mali — Logo, Soulakanda, Dimbal, Ogossagou and Kouroundé — were simultaneously attacked in the late afternoon by the Group of Support for Islam and Muslims (Jnim), an al‑Qaeda‑linked jihadist organization. The assaults left roughly twenty people dead, including traditional dozo hunters and civilians.

The violence sparked a wave of displacement as residents fled to nearby towns such as Bankass, which is already hosting many displaced persons. Local officials and dozo leaders lamented the army’s lack of response; the military has not issued a statement. Earlier attacks in the same area earlier in the month had killed more than fifty people, and Jnim has warned it will target villages that host dozo hunter bases.