The explosion occurred Monday afternoon when the bus struck an improvised explosive device planted along this critical route connecting Mali’s capital to its western regions. Transport union spokesperson Mamadou Kassambara confirmed the casualties, noting all victims were civilians aboard the commercial vehicle.

While official reports cite eight fatalities and 42 injuries, conflicting accounts emerged from regional security observers. A paramilitary formation operating in Mali suggested a lower toll of five dead and over a dozen wounded, attributing the attack to the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin), an Al-Qaeda affiliate.

This highway segment has become increasingly dangerous in recent months, with armed groups frequently targeting civilian traffic. Security sources indicate coordinated offensives in April between Islamist factions and Tuareg-led rebel movements, exacerbating instability in the area.