17 dead in Mali violence before election 10A04.28-G

(40.09) 17 dead in Mali violence before election

At least 17 people have been killed in a violence in West African country ahead of next Sunday's presidential election. According to local media, Turkish news agency Anadolu said that on Friday the violence happened among the country's traditional hunting community Dosos and the indigenous Fulani community. All members of the Fulani community killed in the violence in Somena village of central Mopti area of ​​Mali.
A number of extremist groups are active in northern Mali
The eighth presidential election will be held on Sunday (July 29th) in Mali. Although the total 24 candidates contested in the elections, the main challenge will be in the elections since the 2013 presidential election, between the ruling President Ibrahim Boubacher Keita and the opposition leader Soumalia Sis. During the election campaign earlier this week, the Syis campaign team was attacked in northern city Timbuktu during the election campaign. According to local media reports, the car, phone and personal belongings were damaged and stolen from the attack.

On July 17, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement that this year, in the event of 99 violence in Mali, 289 people have been killed. The statement said that violent attacks against the villagers of the Fulani villagers were carried out by members of indigenous Dosos and Doszone communities.

There are several active groups in Northern Mali active. French, Mali and UN peacekeepers in the area have been campaigning against these extremists. Members of Bangladesh's armed forces also work under UN Peacekeeping Force in the country.

The last presidential election in the country was in 2013. There was a failed coup in the country when the election was in 2012. As a result, almost half of the country's northern areas are controlled by the Tuareg rebels. The group is alleged to be affiliated with Al Qaeda.

In 2015 a peace agreement was signed between the government and some rebel groups. However, there are allegations that political and community disputes are ongoing in northern Mali, ignoring the peace agreement.