WEB DESK

The Mali government says, at least 54 people have been killed in a terrorist attack on army in the Menaka region. The revised death toll from government spokesman Yaya Sangare came a day after the military initially announced at least 15 dead following yesterday’s attack in the area.

The violence is expected to further raise tensions in the capital, Bamako, where military families have already protested in the streets. Relatives say that soldiers are not being adequately protected on the ground as they face an array of radicalised groups. Yesterday’s violence took place a month after 41 soldiers were killed and 20 others went missing during two attacks on Malian soldiers taking part in a regional counter-terrorism force.