Armed groups from northern Mali on Tuesday claimed they captured the key town of Bourem, between Gao and Timbuktu, before pulling out, fuelling fears of the collapse of a peace deal between the ex-rebels and government forces.In late August, the junta had called on the armed groups to relaunch dialogue and the ailing peace deal, amid fears of fresh hostilities after the UN peacekeepers withdraw.
A military camp in Mali s north was attacked following two separate assaults by al-Qaeda-linked insurgents that killed 49 civilians and 15 soldiers. The armed forces are currently evaluating the situation. The attacks were claimed by JNIM, a coalition of armed groups aligned with al-Qaeda. The Malian government reported that around 50 assailants were killed in the response to the attacks.