On Monday, April 13, the road leading to the weekly market in Neguela (Koulikoro region) became the scene of a bloody road accident. A collision involving two minibuses and a crane truck claimed the lives of seven people and left seven others seriously injured .

The circumstances of the tragedy

The accident occurred around 1 p.m. , just at the entrance to the town. The two public transport vehicles, which had left Kati to go to the weekly market, violently collided with a truck equipped with a crane.

1. Human toll: 7 deaths (including several women and children) and 7 critically injured.
2. Medical care: The injured were urgently transported to health centers in Kati.
3. Legal proceedings: The drivers of the two minibuses were arrested by the authorities. One of them has a broken leg.

A fair plunged into mourning

The usual bustle of the Neguela fair has given way to shock and grief. Local accounts are heartbreaking, like that of the resident of a neighboring hamlet who lost two of his daughters and his grandson in the collision. For many families, the wait for news has transformed this commercial day into a true nightmare.

Road insecurity in Mali: a persistent scourge

This latest accident illustrates once again the dangerous nature of Mali's roads. The figures for 2024 demonstrate the scale of the challenge to national road safety:

Road Statistics 2024	Numbers
Personal injury accidents	7,673
Wounded	8,828
Death	682

The causes identified

Although the exact circumstances of this tragedy are still under investigation, road users regularly point to recurring factors on the roads leading to rural fairs:

1. Speeding: The leading cause of accidents nationwide.
2. Commercial pressure: The race for profit often pushes drivers into competition.
3. Overloading: A common practice that reduces vehicle braking capacity and stability.

"The road to the fair closed in the silence of the losses and the wait for the outcome of the investigation."

While the country awaits a detailed official statement on this disaster, mourning settles in Neguela, highlighting the urgent need for concrete measures to secure journeys to rural markets.