Three people die in clashes during a protest against armed groups in northern Mali

July 25 (EUROPA PRESS) –

At least three people died on Saturday during a protest in the Malian city of Ménaka (north), as confirmed on Monday by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), which has assured that a ‘blue helmet’ was wounded after the deployment of reinforcements to contain the situation.

“Saturday’s demonstrations in Ménaka by the population against elements of the Azawad Salvation Movement (MSA) and the Tuareg Imghad and Allies Self-Defense Group (GATIA), degenerated into acts of violence that left three dead and wounded, including a baby,” said MINUSMA.

Thus, he highlighted in a series of messages published on his Twitter social network account that “a patrol from the Niger battalion in MINUSMA and elements of the Malian Army were quickly deployed to the scene to calm the situation and protect civilians, including a displaced persons camp.

“Certain individuals among the demonstrators threw stones at the vehicles of the ‘blue helmets’, injuring a soldier and damaging three vehicles,” he said, stressing that “security and protection patrols continue” in the area, without the authorities have ruled on the matter.

The protest took place to protest against the actions of some of the armed groups that operate in the city, which would have left one injured on Saturday by gunshots, mobilizations that caused the closure of stores and the installation of barricades in various parts of the city, according to the GaoInfos portal.

The Ménaka region is under the control of GATIA and the MSA, which work in coordination with the Malian Armed Forces as a result of the 2015 peace agreement. The Army has a presence in this area of ​​the African country, shaken by the deteriorating situation of security.

Mali, like other countries in the Sahel, has been registering in recent years a growing number of jihadist attacks carried out by both the Al Qaeda affiliate in the region and the Islamic State, which has also increased inter-community violence and caused the displacement of tens of thousands of people.