Malian soldiers patrol in the northern Gao province. (AFP via Getty Images)

Suspected insurgents carried out two separate attacks in northern Mali, targeting an army base and a passenger boat on the Niger River, resulting in the death of 64 people, as reported by a Malian official.

The attacks, which occurred in the northern Gao region at Bamba and on the Niger River's Timbuktu boat, led to a provisional toll of 49 civilians and 15 soldiers killed, according to a government statement. While the statement did not specify the exact casualty count for each assault, a group affiliated with Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for both attacks.

The Malian army had initially reported on social media that the boat was assaulted around 1100 GMT by "armed terrorist groups." The attackers targeted the vessel's engines with "at least three rockets," according to the operator Comanav, causing it to become immobilized on the river. The army has been evacuating passengers in response to the incident.

Images shared on social media depicted a plume of black smoke rising above the river. Due to the remote location of the attack, the authenticity of these images could not be independently verified.

🔴MALI 🇲🇱| #Horrible : armed terrorist men attacked this Thursday 07/09, a boat of the Malian Navigation Company (#Comanav) on the #Niger River, between Abakoira and Zorghoi (circle of #Rarhous). Unspecified but heavy toll : many people killed and significant material damage. pic.twitter.com/nirGth7lp1
— Nanana365 (@nanana365media) September 7, 2023

The Niger River serves as a crucial transportation route in a region where road infrastructure is lacking and railways are absent.

This attack follows an announcement by Al-Qaeda-affiliated alliance, last month, stating their blockade of Timbuktu, a historically significant city in northern Mali.

Mali has grappled with insecurity since 2012 when a revolt led by the Tuaregs began in the troubled northern region. The insurgency gained momentum with the involvement of groups, which subsequently extended their campaigns into central Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, creating instability across the Sahel region.

In northern Mali, the regional rebellion officially ended with a peace agreement signed between the rebels and the Malian government in 2015. However, this fragile accord faced challenges following the ousting of the civilian government in 2020, replaced by a junta.

Recent weeks have seen heightened tensions in the region, particularly after the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, instructed to depart by year-end, handed over two bases near Timbuktu to the armed forces. This handover triggered clashes between the army and insurgents and sparked confrontations with former groups, raising concerns about the 2015 peace agreement.