30 Dogon Men Held Hostage by Suspected Islamic Extremists in Mali

The hostages were taken following an ambush on public transport buses, marking a continuation of heightened tensions in the region.

Suspected Islamic extremists ambushed several public transport buses in central Mali, taking about 40 people hostage, predominantly from the Dogon ethnic group. The women among the hostages were later released, leaving about 30 men still held captive.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, suspicion falls on Islamic extremists who have been operating in the region for years and are known to target public transport.
The presence of these extremists has escalated communal tensions, with the Peuhl ethnic group accused of collaborating with them, and Dogon communities targeted for allegedly supporting the Malian army's counterinsurgency efforts.
This incident mirrors a similar attack in 2021, where armed men identifying as jihadis took dozens of people hostage in the same region. The hostages were only released after their families paid ransoms.
Mali's security concerns have intensified since a 2020 coup deposed the democratically elected president. The army colonel who seized power, Assimi Goita, has distanced the country from its international partners, leading to the departure of French troops and the ongoing exit of U.N. peacekeepers.