Raiders in Mali killed at least 20 civilians in attacks on villages near the northern town of Gao over the weekend, while a landmine killed a U.N. peacekeeper in the troubled region.
A local official blamed the attacks on jihadists and put the death toll at 24, saying the killings occurred at Ebak, some 35 kilometers (23 miles) north of Gao, the region’s main town.
The official described a “general panic” in the area.
The situation in Anchawadj was “very concerning,” and civilians were fleeing the area fearing further violence, he added.
