Twin attacks blamed on jihadists during weekend municipal elections in Mali left six people dead, security sources said Monday. The violence came as the country held its first election since 2013. Turnout was low however due to continuing fears over security despite the presence of international peacekeepers.
In the first incident, security sources told AFP that five Malian soldiers died after being ambushed while transporting ballot boxes in the restive north. "After the voting on Sunday, an army convoy taking the ballot boxes for counting was attacked in the north by jihadists. Five Malian soldiers were killed," a security source said. Another Malian security source said the assailants "wanted to sabotage the elections" and were unable to make off with the ballots.
In the second attack, in the town of Dilli in south-western Mali overnight Sunday to Monday, a group of alleged jihadists nabbed several vehicles and killed a civilian. "They arrived early Monday in Dilli. They attacked a council building. The jihadists then took off with two ambulances and a vehicle, after which they killed a civilian and made off for the Mauritanian border," a local official said, requesting anonymity. A security source said the assailants were probably hoping to find ballot boxes in the building where counting was under way.