A suicide bombing targeting militia groups committed to restoring peace in Mali left nearly 50 people dead on Wednesday and struck a fresh blow at long-running efforts to stabilise the troubled north.
The car bomb attack in Gao, the region’s biggest city, targeted a camp grouping former rebels and pro-government militia who are signatories to a 2015 peace accord struck with the government.
The attack occurred as former rebels from the Tuareg-led CMA movement prepared to go on a joint patrol with pro-government militia members, under the terms of the peace deal.
Mali’s north fell under control of Tuareg-led rebels and jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in 2012.
The Islamists sidelined the rebels to take sole control.
Although they were largely ousted by a French-led military operation in January 2013.