At least 64 people, 49 of them civilians and 15 soldiers, were killed in two terrorist attacks by an organization linked to Al Qaeda.
The attacks targeted a passenger ship on the Niger River and a military base located in Bamba, in the Gao region.
The ship running the permanent line from Timbuktu to Gao was hit by 3 rockets in the engine. According to the Malian government, 50 terrorists were killed in the fighting.
Many other people were injured, as 3 days of mourning have been announced for this serious event.
Northern Mali has been under intense pressure for several weeks from armed groups fighting against the government. Timbuktu has been under siege since late August, when the Malian army deployed reinforcements to the region. The insurgents are blocking the supply of supplies to the city while more than 30,000 residents have fled the city.