A tragic incident in Mali has left eight people dead and 42 others injured after a commercial bus struck a land mine west of Bamako. The bus was traveling to Kayes when the explosion occurred on Monday, June 1, 2026.
Details of the Explosion
According to Mamadou Kassambara, communications officer for the national drivers' union, the explosion happened on a road where the al Qaeda-linked Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) operates. The incident was reported on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
The explosion follows unprecedented assaults in April by JNIM in coordination with a Tuareg-dominated rebel group. No group has claimed responsibility for laying the land mine.
Russia-Linked Group Blames JNIM
Africa Corps, a Russian paramilitary group operating in Mali, claimed five people were killed and more than 10 injured in the incident. In a social media post shared late Monday, June 1, 2026, the group blamed JNIM for the deadly event.
JNIM had earlier announced a blockade and set up checkpoints on some major roads leading to Bamako City following the April attacks.
This incident underscores the ongoing security challenges in Mali, where militant groups continue to pose threats to civilians and travelers.
