Islamic State-linked militants have killed at least 48 people in Mali's eastern Menaka region, in what appears to be retaliation for abuses allegedly committed by pro-government forces, two security sources and two local officials told new agency Reuters.&nbsp;The attacks, carried out by terrorists from Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP), struck at least five localities on Sunday (Oct 18). The overall toll was still being determined on Tuesday (Oct 20), with the four sources, who requested Reuters anonymity for fear of reprisals from Mali's government, putting provisional figures between 48 and more than 70. Some victims died in fires set by the attackers, while others were shot. The terrorists also stole livestock, and hundreds of civilians fled to Menaka town. ISSP has not claimed responsibility.&nbsp;According to the report, the violence followed an incident the previous week in which the MSA, a pro-government group, and Russia's Africa Corps, the paramilitary group backing Bamako, allegedly targeted civilians suspected of informing for Islamic State. A municipal official in Menaka said the MSA was accompanying Mali's army, and Africa Corps abused civilians, killing about a dozen people, burning homes and looting property.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/a-terrorist-country-is-asking-me-that-question-jaishankar-hits-back-at-pakistani-journalist-at-un-flags-attacks-on-commercial-shipping-1790360879334">'A terrorist country is asking me that question?': Jaishankar hits back at Pakistani journalist at UN; flags attacks on commercial shipping</a>&nbsp;A Malian military spokesperson and Russia's embassy in Bamako did not respond to requests for comment. Mali has previously denied killing civilians during counterinsurgency operations.&nbsp;The weekend violence comes as fighting intensifies between regional Islamic State and al Qaeda affiliates, deepening instability across the Sahel. Last week, ISSP said it had killed 400 from Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), the regional al Qaeda affiliate, after foiling an attempted ambush in neighbouring Burkina Faso. If confirmed, that would be the deadliest single battle between the two groups. The two sides first clashed in 2019 and have fought hundreds of times since, leaving more than 2,000 dead, according to the monitoring group Armed Conflict Location &amp; Event Data.&nbsp;Mali has been battling insurgents since 2012, when Tuareg separatists and al Qaeda-linked terrorists swept across the north, prompting a French military intervention. In April, JNIM and the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front launched nationwide attacks that killed the defence minister and struck the main airport in Bamako.

At least 48 civilians have been killed in eastern Mali's Ménaka region after attacks by Islamic State-linked militants. Sources told news agency Reuters that houses were torched in apparent retaliation for pro-government forces' operations.

Islamic State-linked militants have killed at least 48 people in Mali's eastern Menaka region, in what appears to be retaliation for abuses allegedly committed by pro-government forces, two security sources and two local officials told new agency Reuters. The attacks, carried out by terrorists from Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP), struck at least five localities on Sunday (Oct 18). The overall toll was still being determined on Tuesday (Oct 20), with the four sources, who requested Reuters anonymity for fear of reprisals from Mali's government, putting provisional figures between 48 and more than 70. Some victims died in fires set by the attackers, while others were shot. The terrorists also stole livestock, and hundreds of civilians fled to Menaka town. ISSP has not claimed responsibility. According to the report, the violence followed an incident the previous week in which the MSA, a pro-government group, and Russia's Africa Corps, the paramilitary group backing Bamako, allegedly targeted civilians suspected of informing for Islamic State. A municipal official in Menaka said the MSA was accompanying Mali's army, and Africa Corps abused civilians, killing about a dozen people, burning homes and looting property. Also read: 'A terrorist country is asking me that question?': Jaishankar hits back at Pakistani journalist at UN; flags attacks on commercial shipping A Malian military spokesperson and Russia's embassy in Bamako did not respond to requests for comment. Mali has previously denied killing civilians during counterinsurgency operations. The weekend violence comes as fighting intensifies between regional Islamic State and al Qaeda affiliates, deepening instability across the Sahel. Last week, ISSP said it had killed 400 from Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), the regional al Qaeda affiliate, after foiling an attempted ambush in neighbouring Burkina Faso. If confirmed, that would be the deadliest single battle between the two groups. The two sides first clashed in 2019 and have fought hundreds of times since, leaving more than 2,000 dead, according to the monitoring group Armed Conflict Location & Event Data. Mali has been battling insurgents since 2012, when Tuareg separatists and al Qaeda-linked terrorists swept across the north, prompting a French military intervention. In April, JNIM and the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front launched nationwide attacks that killed the defence minister and struck the main airport in Bamako.

At least 48 civilians have been killed in eastern Mali's Ménaka region after attacks by Islamic State-linked militants. Sources told news agency Reuters that houses were torched in apparent retaliation for pro-government forces' operations.

At least 48 civilians killed in eastern Mali by Islamic State-linked terrorists: Report

In response to the delay in the promised election, sweeping economic sanctions have been imposed in Mali. West Africa's main regional bloc has also agreed to close its borders with the coup hit nation.

Growing international concern over the situation in Mali

Mali plunged back into crisis on Monday when military officers detained the interim president, prime minister and defence minister, derailing a transition back to civilian rule after last year`s coup. 
 
The latest events threaten to exacerbate instability in the West African country where violent Islamist groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State control large areas of the north and centre. 
 
Following are details on the origins of the crisis and the risks it poses to the region. 
 
WHAT HAPPENED? 
 
President Bah Ndaw, Prime Minister Moctar Ouane and Defence Minister Souleymane Doucoure were taken to a military base outside the capital Bamako, hours after two members of the military lost their positions in a government reshuffle. 
 
Ndaw, a retired colonel, was sworn in as interim president in September after President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was overthrown by the military the previous month. He was tasked with leading an 18-month transition to new elections. 
 
He has faced a difficult balancing act, with various political factions and the leaders of the coup against Keita all jockeying for political influence. 
 
WHY DID THE MILITARY DO IT? 
 
The military`s ultimate goal was not immediately clear, but its actions came after two of the leaders of last year`s coup, Sadio Camara and Modibo Kone, lost their posts as defence and security minister in a government reshuffle. 
 
A senior former Malian government official told Reuters that the sacking of Camara and Kone was "an enormous misjudgment" and that the military`s actions were probably aimed at restoring them to their posts. 
 
WHY ARE MALI`S NEIGHBOURS AND ALLIES WORRIED? 
 
Mali`s international partners are concerned about the implications for regional security. Groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State are based in Mali and have taken advantage of previous bouts of political instability. 
 
After a coup in 2012 ousted then-President Amadou Toumani Toure, al Qaeda-linked insurgents exploited a power vacuum to seize Mali’s desert north. 
 
Since then, international powers, led by France, have deployed thousands of troops and spent billions of dollars to try to stabilise the country. But they have had little success as the Islamists continue to carry out regular attacks on the army and civilians. They also use Mali as a launch pad for attacks in neighbouring countries like Niger and Burkina Faso. 
 
European leaders worry that prolonged regional instability could see more people displaced, fuelling another wave of migration to their shores. 
 
WHAT COMES NEXT? 
 
The United Nations, European Union and regional countries all called for the immediate release of the detained leaders. 
 
A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which negotiated with the junta that seized power last August, was due in Mali on Tuesday. 
 
The EU`s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said sanctions would be imposed against those standing in the way of the transition.

Mali plunged back into crisis on Monday when military officers detained the interim president, prime minister and defence minister, derailing a transition back to civilian rule after last year`s coup.

Mali plunged back into crisis on Monday when military officers detained the interim president, prime minister and defence minister, derailing a transition back to civilian rule after last year`s coup. The latest events threaten to exacerbate instability in the West African country where violent Islamist groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State control large areas of the north and centre. Following are details on the origins of the crisis and the risks it poses to the region. WHAT HAPPENED? President Bah Ndaw, Prime Minister Moctar Ouane and Defence Minister Souleymane Doucoure were taken to a military base outside the capital Bamako, hours after two members of the military lost their positions in a government reshuffle. Ndaw, a retired colonel, was sworn in as interim president in September after President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was overthrown by the military the previous month. He was tasked with leading an 18-month transition to new elections. He has faced a difficult balancing act, with various political factions and the leaders of the coup against Keita all jockeying for political influence. WHY DID THE MILITARY DO IT? The military`s ultimate goal was not immediately clear, but its actions came after two of the leaders of last year`s coup, Sadio Camara and Modibo Kone, lost their posts as defence and security minister in a government reshuffle. A senior former Malian government official told Reuters that the sacking of Camara and Kone was "an enormous misjudgment" and that the military`s actions were probably aimed at restoring them to their posts. WHY ARE MALI`S NEIGHBOURS AND ALLIES WORRIED? Mali`s international partners are concerned about the implications for regional security. Groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State are based in Mali and have taken advantage of previous bouts of political instability. After a coup in 2012 ousted then-President Amadou Toumani Toure, al Qaeda-linked insurgents exploited a power vacuum to seize Mali’s desert north. Since then, international powers, led by France, have deployed thousands of troops and spent billions of dollars to try to stabilise the country. But they have had little success as the Islamists continue to carry out regular attacks on the army and civilians. They also use Mali as a launch pad for attacks in neighbouring countries like Niger and Burkina Faso. European leaders worry that prolonged regional instability could see more people displaced, fuelling another wave of migration to their shores. WHAT COMES NEXT? The United Nations, European Union and regional countries all called for the immediate release of the detained leaders. A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which negotiated with the junta that seized power last August, was due in Mali on Tuesday. The EU`s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said sanctions would be imposed against those standing in the way of the transition.

Explainer | What's happening in Mali right now?

Twenty-six people were killed in an attack on a village in central Mali, officials said Saturday, in the latest violence to hit the West African nation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Friday's attack targeted a Fulani village named Binedama in the volatile Mopti region, said Aly Barry, an official from Tabital Pulaaku, a Fulani association in Mali. &nbsp;

Two other local officials confirmed the attack and the death toll to AFP.

Twenty-six people were killed in an attack on a village in central Mali, officials said Saturday, in the latest violence to hit the West African nation. Friday's attack targeted a Fulani village named Binedama in the volatile Mopti region, said Aly Barry, an official from Tabital Pulaaku, a Fulani association in Mali.

Twenty-six people were killed in an attack on a village in central Mali, officials said Saturday, in the latest violence to hit the West African nation. Friday's attack targeted a Fulani village named Binedama in the volatile Mopti region, said Aly Barry, an official from Tabital Pulaaku, a Fulani association in Mali. Two other local officials confirmed the attack and the death toll to AFP.

Twenty-six killed in central Mali attack

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At least 48 civilians killed in eastern Mali by Islamic State-linked terrorists: Report

Growing international concern over the situation in Mali

Explainer | What's happening in Mali right now?

Twenty-six killed in central Mali attack