The blast ripped through a civilian passenger bus on Monday, leaving eight dead and 42 wounded in an area long plagued by armed clashes and improvised explosive devices. The incident unfolded on a critical transport corridor connecting Mali’s capital to its western regions.

A spokesperson for the national drivers’ union confirmed the toll, noting all victims were civilians aboard the vehicle. Meanwhile, a paramilitary formation operating in Mali reported a lower count of five fatalities and over a dozen injuries, attributing the strike to the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin, or GSIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate.

Western Mali continues to face persistent security threats, with GSIM and allied factions repeatedly targeting key infrastructure. Just weeks earlier, coordinated assaults involving GSIM and a predominantly Tuareg rebel movement were reported in the same zone.