One of Mali's most senior military officers survived an assassination attempt in the capital, Bamako, on Monday, three sources told Reuters.
General Mohamed Ould Meydou, adviser to the chief of staff of Mali's army and the most senior Arab officer in the military, was shot by unknown gunmen, but was only lightly wounded in the incident, two of the sources said.
One of the sources, a medic at the Gabriel Toure hospital in Bamako, said Ould Meydou was well enough to leave hospital after receiving treatment on Monday evening.
It was not clear who had targeted Meydou, an ethnic Arab who remained loyal to the Bamako government when Tuareg and Arab rebels took up arms in 2012.
Taureg-led separatists and a mix of Islamist groups with links to al Qaeda occupied northern Mali for most of 2012 until a French intervention in early 2013 scattered them into the desert.
Despite French backing and the deployment of United Nations peacekeepers, Mali's military has struggled to redeploy in the north and is increasingly being targeted by a resurgent militant threat.
Dynamics between armed groups are often muddied by local politics, ethnic rivalries and allegations of involvement in organized crime, which has led to shifting loyalties of gunmen.
Latest Stories
-
Our ticket will be a pair of experienced individuals – Mahama assures
3 mins -
NDC officially outdoors Prof Naana Opoku-Agyemang as running mate
16 mins -
+233 hosts Int. Jazz Day concert on April 30
21 mins -
Farmer arraigned over threat of death
39 mins -
Education Minister unveils new uniforms for basic schools
46 mins -
8th Ghana CEO Summit scheduled for May 27
53 mins -
Leaked intimate video has severely embarrassed me; I’m sorry – Serwaa Amihere
1 hour -
Poll results alone don’t constitute victory for any political party- Asiedu Nketia cautions NDC
3 hours -
Gyakie spills truth on her journey to fame
3 hours -
Energy sector CSOs challenge President Akufo-Addo to transparent value for money audit of SML contract
3 hours -
Plunderers of the State will face the music – Prof Jane Opoku-Agyemang promises
3 hours -
We don’t feel safe after inconsiderate conduct of Regional Minister – Ashanti ECG staff
4 hours -
Ghana needs urgent reset and inspiring leadership – Mahama
5 hours -
Asiedu Nketia cautions NDC: Don’t be complacent, election 2024 victory isn’t assured yet
5 hours -
Ongoing power crisis worst in the 4th Republic- Alhassan Suhuyini
5 hours