Two Water and Forestry officers were killed on Friday in a jihadist attack in Diangounté Camara, Kayes region, raising fears of escalating violence in southwest Mali.

Armed men stormed the administrative post, causing significant material damage before fleeing toward the Mauritanian border.

Hours later, the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Support Group for Islam and Muslims (JNIM) claimed responsibility for the attack.

Malian authorities have yet to issue an official response as security concerns mount in the region.