A/HRC/34/72 attacked a gendarmerie post, from which they stole a car and five motorcycles. They then set fire to the bank, after failing to open its safe. The group also attacked the prison, where they released 21 detainees. A prison guard has been missing since the attack. The gendarmerie have opened an inquiry into the incident. 16. The widespread insecurity in almost all localities in the north and in some parts of Mopti has created a vicious cycle, which holds judges and other criminal justice actors at a distance, an outcome that favours impunity and leaves the population highly vulnerable. From March to September 2016, the Human Rights and Protection Division of MINUSMA recorded 131 attacks against civilian targets (58 in Timbuktu, 27 in Gao, 29 in Mopti, 10 in Ménaka, 4 in Kidal, 2 in Ségou and 1 in Bamako). These attacks have a negative impact on the overall security and the human rights situation in general. Most instances consist in armed robberies, in which public passenger vehicles, motorcycles, livestock and miscellaneous goods are stolen from traders and individuals. Violations of personal rights often take the form of ill-treatment and summary executions perpetrated against vehicle occupants during armed robberies. The Independent Expert also received information regarding a case of rape during the robbery of a public passenger vehicle by unidentified armed men in Niafounké cercle. The Timbuktu region is that which has been most affected by security incidents, especially the areas of Gossi, Bambara Maoudé and Léré in the cercles of Gourma-Rharous and Niafounké, and the highways in Goundam cercle. 17. Between April and September 2016, the Human Rights and Protection Division documented a total of 24 asymmetric attacks against civilian or military targets, 23 of which targeted the United Nations personnel and facilities and operation Barkhane military personnel, and 1 civilian. These attacks typically involve the use of mortars, the planting of mines and the detonation of explosive devices. Six deliberate attacks were carried out against the personnel and facilities of MINUSMA, two of which were claimed by Ansar Eddine, two attributed to the CMA and two others to the Platform. The 24 attacks resulted in a total of 46 victims (35 military, including 15 dead and 20 injured; and 11 civilians, including 3 dead and 8 injured). 18. In addition, 40 attacks were carried out against Malian Armed Forces and symbols of the State, resulting in 147 victims (142 military, of which 55 were killed and 81 wounded, and 5 civilians, of which 1 was killed and 4 were injured, including a woman and a child). These attacks, using mines and other explosives, mainly targeted checkpoints, escorts, vehicles and agents working for the Malian Government. The attack on the camp east of Nampala on 19 July by Ansar Eddine and the National Alliance for the Protection of Fulani Identity and Restoration of Justice (ANSIPRJ) killed 17 soldiers, injured 30 others and led to the enforced disappearance of 6 members of the Malian Armed Forces. The constantly rising number of military victims is weighing on troop morale and stoking the perception that the Government is unable to protect communities, besides raising questions about the way the State cares for the families of killed and wounded soldiers. 19. By way of comparison with the preceding months, between October 2015 and March 2016, the Human Rights and Protection Division documented 7 attacks targeting international forces (MINUSMA, Barkhane forces and the European Union Training Mission in Mali), which resulted in the injury of three military personnel, as well as 4 attacks against Malian Armed Forces and symbols of the State, which resulted in 6 victims (2 dead and 4 injured), and 146 attacks against civilian targets, that caused 163 victims, of whom 159 were civilians. The increase in attacks against international and Malian forces is partly due to the counter-terrorism operations undertaken by the Barkhane forces and by the Malian Armed Forces. Attacks targeting civilians have remained at a constant level. 20. The Independent Expert heard a great deal about new armed groups, which have recently complicated the security situation. In June, a new political-military group, the National Alliance for the Protection of Fulani Identity and Restoration of Justice (ANSIPRJ), was established in the region of Mopti. This group’s goal was to defend the Fulani community, although some existing Fulani associations disagreed with the establishment of the new movement. The group is thought to have disbanded in October. In Ménaka, a new armed group appeared, the Mouvement populaire pour le salut de l’Azawad, made up of dissidents of the CMA, which immediately entered into an alliance with the Groupe d’autodéfense des Touaregs Imghad et leurs alliés. The Mouvement GE.17-02058 5