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Many killed in central Mali ethnic attacks: Officials
Armed men on motorcycles have killed at least 27 civilians in central Mali in three attacks on ethnic Dogon farming villages in less than 24 hours, local officials said on Thursday.
Central Mali has been ravaged in recent years by ethnic reprisal killings, as recriminations between Fulani herding and Dogon farming communities over violence compound long-standing grievances.
Local officials told Reuters news agency they believed the three attacks, between Tuesday night and Wednesday evening, were carried out by people claiming to be defending Fulani against rival Dogon.
“We were surprised by the attack on the village of Tille. Seven were killed, all Dogons, some of them burned alive,” said Yacouba Kassogue, the deputy mayor of Doucombo, the municipality in which Tille is located.
Attacks on villages in the neighbouring areas of Bankass and Koro killed another 20 civilians, most of them shot or burned to death, local officials said.
A spokesman for Mali’s army was not immediately available for comment. The army has been criticised by rights groups and residents for failing to protect civilians in central Mali.
Violence between the Dogon and Fulani has compounded an already dire security situation in Mali’s semi-arid and desert regions, which are used as a base by armed groups with ties to al-Qaeda and the ISIL (ISIS) group.
The Fulani are primarily cattle breeders and traders, while the Dogon are traditionally sedentary farmers.
Last year, the United Nations mission in Mali (MINUSMA) announced it recorded “at least 488 deaths” in attacks on Fulanis in the central regions of Mopti and Segou.
In the bloodiest raid, about 160 Fulani villagers were slaughtered in March last year at Ogossagou, near the border with Burkina Faso, by suspected Dogon hunters.
MINUSMA said since January 2018, armed Fulanis had “caused 63 deaths” among the civilians in the Mopti region.
MINUSMA has been operating in Mali since 2013, which ranks as the most dangerous UN mission, with 125 peacekeepers killed in attacks since deployment.
The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a consultancy that tracks political violence, says it recorded nearly 300 civilian deaths in Mali in the first three months of 2020, a 90 percent increase over the previous quarter.
AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has announced that government is encouraging Ghanaians to dedicate every Wednesday to the wearing of fugu, also known as batakari, as part of efforts to promote the country’s cultural heritage.
In a correspondence dated February 10, 2026, the ministry explained that the initiative forms part of government’s broader commitment to preserve, promote and celebrate Ghana’s rich cultural identity.
It called on all Ghanaians, as well as friends of Ghana both at home and abroad, to take part by wearing fugu in its various designs and styles, together with its traditional accessories.
According to the ministry, the move is aimed at deepening national cultural awareness and strengthening the country’s sense of identity, while projecting Ghana’s heritage to the international community with pride.
The ministry further noted that the initiative is expected to bring social and economic benefits to the country.
It explained that increased use of fugu would support local weavers, designers, artisans and traders involved in the production and sale of the attire, while also creating more business and employment opportunities across the value chain.
Government believes that the nationwide embrace of fugu will help strengthen national unity, boost the creative economy and serve as a strong symbol of Ghana’s cultural confidence and self expression.
The correspondence was signed by the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, who reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to policies that promote Ghanaian culture and creative industries.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The National Democratic Congress parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso East Constituency, Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed, has denied allegations that he induced voters during the party’s recent parliamentary primaries.
In a statement issued to the media on Monday, February 9, 2026, Baba Jamal confirmed that he appeared before a committee chaired by Mr Kofi Totobi Quakyi, which was set up to investigate claims of vote buying during the primaries held last Saturday.
He noted that he used the opportunity to clearly state his innocence and reject the accusations against him.
He stressed that his political record in the constituency shows respect for party processes and unity.
He recalled that he had previously contested two primaries in Ayawaso East and lost both times to the late Member of Parliament. On each occasion, he explained that he accepted the results peacefully in the interest of party cohesion.
Referring to the last primaries ahead of the 2024 general elections, Baba Jamal disclosed that he obtained 309 votes, while the eventual winner secured 452 votes.
He pointed out that his rising support among party members is not based on inducement but on the initiatives he has undertaken, his personal integrity, and a shared commitment to improving representation for the constituency in Parliament.
He expressed appreciation to the committee for granting him a fair hearing and thanked delegates in Ayawaso East for the trust they have placed in him to lead the NDC into the upcoming by election.
According to him, that confidence strengthens his resolve to work with party supporters to bring development to the area and improve living conditions for residents.
Baba Jamal ended his statement with messages of loyalty to the NDC, the Ayawaso East Constituency, and Ghana, reaffirming his commitment to the party’s values and goals.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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