It also blames members of the Al-Qaeda and Islamic State groups for setting fire to houses in the city of Diallassagou and two neighboring towns in the region known as the Bankass circle where Islamic fundamentalism has a large number of followers.

Survivors of the massacre reported that the militants entered the area, accused the residents of not being Muslim and opened fire on them; others were kidnapped and their mutilated bodies were found hours later.

The actions of the Islamists in Mali gained strength as of 2012 and since then they have spread to Burkina Faso and Niger in an apparent attempt to force their way into West African countries where up to now there has been no activity.

The deployment of a French military force in Mali dislodged the Islamists from the capital and pushed them north, but was unable to eliminate them.

Malian authorities recently demanded the departure of the French contingent after accusing Paris of plotting to overthrow them and indirectly supporting Muslim radicals.

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